Hawai'i Game Notes | New Mexico State Notes

The University of Hawai'i Rainbow Warrior baseball squad (7-13) is back at Les Murakami Stadium to wrap up an eight-game home stand with the New Mexico State Aggies (2-15-1) coming to town for a four-set. The 'Bows battled it out last week with Big 12 foe Oklahoma in a gritty series that left UH at 1-3, despite being in position for the win in the dwindling innings of two of the three losses, including a 12-inning nailbiter that ended in a 6-3 loss.
 
A former Western Athletic Conference (WAC) opponent, these teams are meeting for the 32nd time and first since 2012. The Rainbow Warriors carry a heavy lead at 20-11 (.645) in the overall series record.
 
The series will open on Thursday (March 19) at 6:35 p.m. HT at Les Murakami Stadium, continuing on Friday (March 20) and Saturday (March 21) with 6:35 p.m. HT meetings. The final game of the weekend is scheduled for 1:05 p.m. HT on Sunday (March 22).
 
The Aggies have struggled early in the season and are coming off a technical series split with Bakersfield, finishing the weekend 1-1-1, with the finale called in the 11th inning due to travel curfew. NMSU has garnered wins over Bakersfield and Incarnate word this season.
 
As a team, the Aggies hit just .227 as a team with a .306 on-base percentage. However, the squad has a pair of big hitters leading from the top in Joseph Koerper and Quinnton Mack. An in-state junior outfielder, Koerper paces the team with a .356 batting average, .404 OBP and .489 slugging percentage. He's collected six (6) runs and nine (9) RBI so far. Leading the team in hitting is fellow outfielder, Mack, a senior from Las Vegas. Mack is hitting .319 with team highs of 22 hits, 10 RBI, six (6) doubles and three (3) triples, racking up a .536 slugging percentage. He's also scored 11 runs for the Aggies. When Mack gets on base, he's proven dangerous, with a perfect 8-for-8 in steals this year.
 
Although infielder Derek Umphres shows up in the stats sheet as a .192 hitter, he's worth keeping an eye on, tallying 10 RBI and 11 runs scored with a pair of doubles and a set of homers.
 
As a team, the Aggies average 4.1 runs per outing.
 
The pitching staff has found challenges containing opponents, reaching a 6.59 team ERA this season. Volcano, Hawai'i native senior RHP Matt Loeffler is leading the staff with a 3.70 ERA in 24.1 innings, striking out 15 with a .270 average against. Just behind is LHP senior Trey Higginbotham, at a 3.79 ERA through 19 innings, striking out 17. Senior Billy Conard has picked up both wins for the Aggies and leads the team with 21 strikeouts in 22.1 innings.
 
The 'Bows are coming off a series-finale heartbreaker against the Sooners, allowing a six-run swing in the final two frames, and coming up short with the tie run at the plate in the ninth. The Rainbow Warriors faced some of the best starting pitching and defense they've met this year in the Sooners.
 
Over the weekend, the 'Bows picked up steady performances from Kaeo Aliviado and Jonathan Weeks, batting .313 and .273, respectively. Both tabbed a pair of RBI and Weeks scored three (3) runs for UH in the low-scoring series.
 
In the absence of still-rehabbing senior Stephen Ventimilia, Aliviado tops the 'Bows, batting .276 with 12 RBI and 12 runs scored, notching a pair of doubles and four (4) home runs. Freshman first baseman Eric Ramirez hits .271 with 11 RBI and 10 runs scored.
 
The pitching staff has helped the 'Bows to keep games on the low end, with Tyler Brashears making his mark this past weekend, collecting the 2-1 win over OU to move to a 3-2 record and .259 ERA after going seven (7.0) innings with six (6) strikeouts against the Sooners, allowing a single unearned run. With a 3-2 record and 2.23 ERA, LJ Brewster remains steady for UH, leading the staff with 32.1 innings worked and a team-high 21 strikeouts, recently moving to the front of the rotation. Making a splash last weekend in his second appearance back from early-season rehab was Jarrett Arakawa, who pitched a near-perfect five (5.0) frames in the finale, allowing just two hits with no runs, while striking out two. Arakawa currently sits at a 1.29 ERA through seven (7.0) innings back.
 
The first three games of the New Mexico State series will be broadcast on OCSports (channels 16 [SD] and 1016 [HD]), with immediate re-airings to follow. Sunday's finale will not be televised. All games of the NMSU series will air on radio broadcast on ESPN Honolulu 1420 AM.
 
Games 21-24
What: Hawai'i Rainbow Warriors (7-13) vs. New Mexico State Aggies (2-15-1)
When: Thursday (6:35 p.m. HT)
           Friday (6:35 p.m. HT)
           Saturday (6:35 p.m. HT)
           Sunday (1:05 p.m. HT)
Where: Honolulu, O'ahu (Les Murakami Stadium)
Television: OC Sports (channels 16 [SD] and 1016 [HD]) will broadcast the first three games of the series, Thursday-Saturday.
Streaming Video: The TV broadcast will appear on Big West TV at http://bit.ly/UHBSB
Radio: ESPN Honolulu 1420 AM with Don Robbs and Scott Robbs. Neighbor islands can listen live on KNUI on Maui, KHLO in Hilo, KKON in Kona and KTOH on Kaua'i.
Audio Webcast: www.espn1420am.com
Live Stats: Live in-game stats will be provided by Hawai'i Athletics throughout the series at the links listed below.

• Game 1: http://bit.ly/1CsuLn6
• Game 2: http://bit.ly/18XRmdD
• Game 3: http://bit.ly/18Dsqbm
• Game 4: http://bit.ly/1BRf7zK

Promotions: Fantastic Sams Hair Salons is the game sponsor on Thursday and Friday and will distribute 400 hair brushes each night. Fans can also register to win great prizes on both nights. Waikiki Beach Marriott is the game sponsor on Saturday and Sunday, and will award a one night ocean view room at the Waikiki Beach Marriott and a dinner buffet for two at Kuhio Beach Grill during the 'Kids on the Field' promotion in the fifth inning. Friday's contest will be followed by an autograph session on the field.