Game Notes

LAS CRUCES, N.M.—The No. 16/18 University of Hawai'i softball team (26-3, 2-1 WAC) is off to the mainland for a pivotal eight-game road trip which includes a pair of three-game Western Athletic Conference series beginning against defending champion New Mexico State (18-16, 0-3 WAC) and ending at BYU. Friday's game against the Aggies is at 12:00 pm (HT) and will be broadcasted on ESPNU later that day at 4:00 pm (HT).
 
The Rainbow Wahine are coming off of a 2-1 series win over San Jose State last week. Reigning WAC Pitcher of the Week, Stephanie Ricketts (16-2 2-0 WAC), earned the two wins in which she did not give up an earned run in 13.0 innings of work. She fired her fifth career no-hitter in the series finale against the Spartans, with three walks and five strike outs. Ricketts and the UH defense did not allow a runner past second base. In UH's lone loss in the series, San Jose State came back to score four late runs after the 'Bows had a 2-0 lead going into the sixth inning. Kaia Parnaby suffered her first loss of the season, dropping her record to 10-1 overall and 0-1 in WAC action.
 
Junior centerfielder Kelly Majam went 3-for-3 in the last game against the Spartans with a single, a double and a home run that broke the UH career record. It was her 45th of her career, edging past the former record of 44 set in 2008 by former UH All-American Kate Robinson. It was Majam's sixth home run of the season, which ties her for the team-lead with Leisha Li'ili'i and Sharla Kliebenstein.
 
Junior shortstop Jessica Iwata continues to lead UH with a .393 average (33-for-84), seven doubles, and 30 RBI. She also leads the team with nine multiple-hit games and 10 multiple-RBI games. Freshman designated player/first baseman Li'ili'i is second on the squad with a .356 average (26-for-73) while Sarah Robinson has been consistent, hitting .333 overall (29-for-87). Majam leads the team with 29 runs scored and 22 walks.
 
The lynchpin for the success this year for UH has been the pitching. The duo of Ricketts and Parnaby has been solid all season and is currently ranked No. 2 in the NCAA with a combined ERA of 0.80. Ricketts is 16-2 overall with a 0.88 ERA in 120.0 innings pitched. She has seven shutouts this season with 18 complete games in 18 starts. Ricketts has walked 43 and struck out 139 while holding opponents to a .163 batting average. Parnaby, the southpaw from Australia, is 10-1 with a 0.68 ERA and six shut-outs in 11 complete games this season. She has walked eight batters with 74 strike outs in 72.0 innings pitched.
 
About the New Mexico State Aggies...
New Mexico State is looking to rebound after an 0-3 WAC start at BYU last week. The Aggies are 18-16 overall and are led by junior outfielder Amber Olive who is the only Aggie to start all 32 games and is hitting .409 with a team-high 45 hits in 110 at bats. She has 21 runs scored and is 7-of-8 in stolen bases. Senior utility player Tiare Jennings is hitting just a shade under .400 with a .398 average (33-for-83) with six doubles, two triples, and six home runs. She leads her team with 29 RBI and eight stolen bases. Sophomore infielder Kristi Covarrubia is third on the team with a .357 average with a team-best seven doubles. Freshman outfielder Staci Rodriguez leads the Aggies with 23 runs scored.
 
The NMSU pitching staff is led by junior Alex Newman who is 9-9 overall with a 4.44 ERA in 94.2 innings pitched. She has 15 walks to 51 strike outs. Freshman Karysta Donisthorpe has seen the second-most innings pitched with 75.1 under her belt. She is 5-4 overall with a 3.81 ERA with 28 walks and 64 strike outs. Sophomore Celisha Walker is 4-2 with a 3.97 ERA in 37.0 innings.
 
Games 30-32
Who: No. 16/18 Hawai'i (26-3, 2-1 WAC) vs. New Mexico State (18-16, 0-3 WAC)
Series Record: Hawai'i leads 39-14. Last season, the 'Bows swept the Aggies in a three-game series in Honolulu, but New Mexico State defeated UH at the WAC tournament in a dramatic, 5-4 walk-off win to knock the Rainbow Wahine into the loser's bracket.
Dates: Friday, Mar. 30 (4:00 p.m. MT), Saturday, Mar. 31 – doubleheader (4:00 p.m. MT)
Where: NM State Softball Complex (1,050), Las Cruces, N.M.
Television: Friday's game will be televised tape delayed on ESPNU with Cara Capuano (play-by-play) and Cheri Kempf (color) handling the broadcast.
Streaming Video: Friday's games can be viewed online at http://espn.go.com/watchespn/
Audio Webcast: http://www.nmstatesports.com/liveEvents
Live Stats: Live in-game stats are available at nmstatesports.com