Hawai'i Notes at UC Irvine 

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Hawai'i Notes at LMU | LMU Notes

The University of Hawai'i Rainbow Warrior baseball squad (9-15) heads back out onto the road for the week, taking on a pair of California opponents, with the first midweek contest and the opening of Big West Conference play on the slate. The 'Bows are set to make an appearance at Loyola Marymount (13-10) on Wednesday, March 25, (6:00 p.m. PT/3:00 p.m. HT) in Los Angeles. Then the long-awaited conference opening weekend starts on Friday (March 27) at UC Irvine (11-10), and runs through Sunday (March 29) on UCI's Cicerone Field at Anteater Ballpark.
 
The first two of the series contests with UCI will be broadcasted live on ESPN3/WatchESPN App on smartphones and tablet devices.
 
The Rainbow Warriors' final non-conference opponent until May, LMU is off to a strong start, fresh off a conference series win over Pepperdine (2-1) in Malibu. As a team, the Lions bat .264 and are averaging 5.2 runs per outing. On the other side of that coin, their team ERA is 3.44, allowing just four (4) runs per game. So far this season, the Lions are 2-2 in midweek contests, with a game against UC Santa Barbara set for Tuesday (March 24). In those games, the margins have been more even, with LMU outscored 21-20 across the four games.
 
Topping the Lions' four leading hitters is sophomore infielder David Fletcher. The 2014 Freshman All-American was West Coast Conference Defensive Player of the Year, but his offense has drawn notice in 2015, hitting a team-high .341 (31 hits), with 15 runs and 14 RBI, aided by six (6) doubles, two (2) triples and one (1) homer. The Lions are an extra-base hit team this year, logging 62 so far, and senior Tanner Donnels is leading the charge. Donnels is hitting .329 with a .663 slugging percentage, pacing the team with 20 RBI plus 16 runs, aided by nine (9) doubles and five (5) home runs.
 
The 'Bows pitching staff will need to keep an eye on base runners, as LMU actively attempts to steal, earning 29 successful thefts on 44 attempts.
 
The Rainbow Warriors are coming off a weekend series split versus New Mexico State at Les Murakami Stadium, closing out an eight-game home stand. The finale was a great statement win for the 'Bows, topping the Aggies 12-1 on 12 hits, while recording no errors to NMSU's five.
 
The offensive leader this past weekend against the Aggies, and the season to date, is freshman first baseman Eric Ramirez. Now on a six-game hitting streak, Ramirez hit .429 against NMSU, tallying five (5) RBI and five (5) runs scored, registering a .571 slugging percentage. On the campaign, Ramirez hits .298, outpacing all but one 'Bows starter, registering a team-high 16 RBI and tying for the lead with 15 runs.
 
Back off an injury that sidelined him since February 26 at WCC opponent Pepperdine, senior second baseman Stephen Ventimilia returned in Sunday's finale, sparking the Rainbow Warriors with a 2-for-3 hitting performance, chipping in a run and an RBI. For the year, Ventimilia bats .323 with a .450 on-base percentage and .516 slugging percentage; still leading the team in doubles (4), despite missing the past 13 games.
 
Center fielder Kaeo Aliviado also made a big push over the weekend, hitting .375 with three (3) runs and two (2) RBI. The local favorite, Aliviado is hitting .293 this season with 14 RBI, tying Ramirez for the team lead of 15 runs. He currently leads the Big West in home runs with four (4) on the campaign.
 
Speaking of the return of Ventimilia, he's not alone in returning from injury to bring the roster to full strength for the first time since the fourth game of the season. Out since the third game of the Oregon series, Marcus Doi returned to the field to open the NMSU series. Over the weekend, he hit .308 in the outfield. Ventimilia is a four-year starter and strengthens the UH infield with his presence, both offensively and defensively. Making his first appearance of the year after a preseason setback, Steven Pollakov was behind the plate on Sunday against NMSU, collecting two (2) RBI. Finally, pitcher Jarrett Arakawa has locked in his place for the pitching rotation, finishing off a five-inning one-hitter against NMSU to extend his streak to 11 innings without a run scored. Arakawa leads UH starters with a 0.75 ERA through 12 innings this year.
 
The left-hander, Arakawa is expected to round out the three-man rotation this weekend, while righty LJ Brewster is projected to open things up on the mound against the Anteaters. Brewster is 3-2 with a 1.83 ERA, cashing in 26 strikeouts through 39.1 innings. Following him in game two, Tyler Brashears is projected as the starter, holding a 3-2 record and 2.39 ERA, sharing the team-high 26 strikeouts with just seven (7) walks in 37.2 innings.
 
Given the strength of the Hawai'i schedule up until this point, it's fitting that the Big West slate opens with the UC Irvine Anteaters. The Anteaters carried the flag last season for a deep Big West field in the NCAA tournament. Finishing third in the conference, the No. 3-seeded UCI worked through the Corvallis (Ore.) Regional with a single loss, swept the Super Regional and made it into the second round of the College World Series before meeting elimination by Texas.
 
The Anteaters and Bows will both open conference play at 6:30 p.m. PT (3:30 p.m. HT) on Friday (March 27) with game two set for Saturday (March 28) at 1:00 p.m. PT (10:00 a.m. HT) and the finale slated for Sunday (March 29) at 1:00 p.m. PT (10:00 a.m. HT). All three games will take place at Anteater Ballpark.
 
Despite having a team with only four seniors, the Anteaters were hit with off-season losses totaling 12, including four players to the MLB Draft. Although a whole new team with 13 newcomers, the Anteaters have been very productive early against a tough schedule, bouncing back from seven consecutive losses to open the season, and have now won eight of their last nine outings. UCI is fresh off a series sweep of Bakersfield and will not play a midweek contest before meeting the 'Bows.
 
Much like UH's Ramirez, one of the young UCI players drawing attention is rookie center fielder Keston Hiura, who has started each game this season and hit .346 with a team-leading 15 RBI, while sharing the pacing position for hits (28) and runs. Much like the smaller-statured Aliviado, the 5-11 Hiura hits for surprising power, with six (6) doubles, one (1) triple and four (4) home runs so far.
 
Junior shortstop Mikey Duarte tops the hitting rolls for UCI, hitting .364 with 10 doubles and seven (7) RBI. Newcomer Mitchell Holland and returnee Andrew Martinez chip in averages of .328 and .324, respectively. Each has scored eight (8) runs apiece, with Holland putting in four (4) RBI, while Martinez has 12.
 
Starting off the weekend on the mound for UCI is projected to be left-hander Elliott Surrey, running 2-2 through six (6) starts with a 3.00 ERA. Through 42 innings, Surrey has collected 38 strikeouts against just six (6) walks. Newcomer right-handed pitcher Matt Esparza is expected to follow, earning a team-leading 4-1 record through six outings with a 2.84 ERA and 34 strikeouts in 38 innings. Rounding out the rotation is anticipated to be senior lefty Evan Manarino, who is 2-0 in six appearances with a 3.65 ERA and 29 strikeouts in 37 innings.
 
Game 25
What: Hawai'i Rainbow Warriors (9-15) at Loyola Marymount Lions (13-10)
When: Wednesday, March 25 (6:00 p.m. PT/3:00 p.m. HT)
Where: Los Angeles, Calif. (George C. Page Stadium)
Streaming Video: LMU Athletics will be streaming the game live at: http://bit.ly/19NX5nF
Radio: ESPN Honolulu 1420 AM legendary sports broadcaster Mel Proctor. 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 Loyola Marymount Athletics at: http://bit.ly/1N2WrR7.
 
 
Games 26-28
What: Hawai'i Rainbow Warriors (9-15) at UC Irvine Anteaters (11-10)
When: Friday (6:35 p.m. PT/3:35 p.m. HT)
           Saturday (1:00 p.m. PT/10:00 a.m. HT)
           Sunday (1:00 p.m. PT/10:00 a.m. HT)
Where: Irvine, Calif. (Cicerone Field at Anteater Ballpark)
Television: The first two games (March 27-28) will be broadcasted live on ESPN3 for Internet and gaming consoles, as well as the WatchESPN app for smartphones and tablet devices. Links will be provided as they become available.
Streaming Video: While both of the first two games stream on ESPN3, the series finale will not receive live video.
Radio: All three games of the series with UC Irvine will broadcast live on NBC Sports Radio AM 1500 with play-by-play and commentary from legendary sports broadcaster Mel Proctor.
Audio Webcast: www.nbcsportsradiohawaii.com
Live Stats: Live in-game stats will be provided by UC Irvine Athletics throughout the series at the links listed below:

• Game 1: http://bit.ly/1GNfETk
• Game 2: http://bit.ly/1GNfOtF
• Game 3: http://bit.ly/1ELkJva