NFCA/USA Today Top 25 Poll
ESPN.com/USA Softball Top 25 Poll


STARKSVILLE, Miss.—The University of Hawai'i softball team (12-0) entered the National Fastpitch Coaches Association/USA Today ranked at No. 25 after going undefeated (6-0) in this past week's Louisville Slugger Desert Classic in Las Vegas, Nev.
 
The Rainbow Wahine remained one slot outside of the ESPN.com/USA Softball Top 25 poll, receiving 28 votes total.
 
Hawai'i has gotten off to its best start in school history, bettering the former record set last season when UH started at 7-0. Offensively, the 'Bows have outscored their opponents, 109-to-11 through the first 12 games—including a 59-to-0 mark through the first three innings of their games. Hawai'i has won by the 8-run rule six times this season—including the last four straight. The 'Bows have already launched 22 doubles and 18 home runs this season. Junior shortstop Jessica Iwata leads UH with a .459 batting average (17-for-37) with nine runs scored and 12 RBI. Senior third baseman is second on the team, hitting .444 (16-for-36) with 12 runs scored three doubles, two home runs and is tied for the team lead with 15 RBI with Leisha Li`ili`i and Sharla Kliebenstein. Li`ili`i and fellow freshman Kayla Wartner both are also hitting over .400 thus far. Li`ili`i is hitting .406 (13-for-32) with one double and three homers while Wartner is hitting .438 (14-for-32) with nine runs, four doubles, a home run and 10 RBI.
 
The pitching has been solid with senior Stephanie Ricketts (7-0) and junior Kaia Parnaby (5-0) shutting down opposing offenses. Ricketts has a 0.64 ERA with seven complete games and four shut-outs. She has 51 strike outs with 12 walks and has held opponents to a .152 average. Parnaby has a 0.70 ERA with five complete games and two shut outs in 30.0 innings pitched. The southpaw has held opponents to a .221 batting average and struck out 28 while walking just three batters.
 
Hawai'i is idle this week but begins their month-long homestand with the Bank of Hawaii Invitational (March 2-4) with Florida State, UC Santa Barbara and Radford.