Hawai'i Notes | Cal Poly Notes

The University of Hawai'i Rainbow Warriors (12-20, 3-3 Big West) baseball squad heads back to the road, traveling to San Luis Obispo, California to meet the Cal Poly Mustangs (10-18, 1-2 Big West) this weekend at Baggett Stadium, as the 'Bows look to continue rising in the Big West Conference standings after a three-game sweep last weekend.
 
The Mustangs were picked second in the Preseason Big West voting after winning 47 games and earning the conference crown in 2014, advancing to an NCAA Regional final.  The year has not started as many projected for the Mustangs, with a 10-18 record and a 1-2 start to BWC play. The Mustangs have met a tough set of opponents in the early season, last dropping their series at Cal State Fullerton, after winning the opener in a 5-0 shutout.

Under the guidance of head coach Larry Lee, now in his 13th season, the Aggies bat .263 as a team and hold a 4.24 team ERA. Junior catcher Brian Mundell paces the Mustangs, hitting .371 with 16 RBI and 13 runs, hitting five (5) doubles and four (4) homers. Junior shortstop Peter Van Gansen isn't far behind, tallying a .357 batting average, with 14 RBI and a team-best 18 runs scored, hitting six (6) doubles and two (2) triples. The pair lead the team in reaching base, with on-base percentages of .430 and .417, respectively.
 
One Mustang to keep an eye on is Zach Zehner. The senior right fielder may hit just .264, but he also makes it count each time, leading CP with 26 RBI and five (5) home runs, in addition to five (5) doubles, two (2) triples and 15 runs scored.
 
The Mustangs have been hot on Fridays, the last two behind starts from Casey Bloomquist. The junior right-hander appeared on the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association first team and Louisville Slugger Collegiate Baseball second team All-America, and for good cause. Bloomquist has logged a 3-2 record and 2.56 ERA through 45.2 innings with 38 strikeouts and a .213 average against. Freshman left hander Kyle Smith is 2-5 with a 3.76 ERA and 36 strikeouts through 40.2 innings, and fellow rookie right-hander Andrew Bernstein is 3-3 with a 4.45 ERA and 18 strikeouts in 30 innings.
 
The 'Bows went 3-1 last week against BWC opponent UC Davis, sweeping the Aggies in the conference series by a scoring margin of 27-10, but dropping the non-conference finale.  UH got on a roll offensively, hitting .326 on the weekend, with 11 extra base hits and a team .411 OBP.
 
Catcher Chayce Ka'aua had his coming out party against the Aggies, batting .500 with three (3) doubles, three (3) RBI and six (6) runs scored. Also showing up in a major way was shortstop Jacob Sheldon-Collins, who went .467 with four (4) RBI and four (4) runs, logging a double and a triple. Center fielder Kaeo Aliviado rounded out the week's top sluggers, collecting six (6) RBI, and three (3) runs, courtesy of .438 hitting and three (3) doubles.
 
First baseman Eric Ramirez remains atop the UH hitting lists, batting .291, sharing the team high of 22 RBI with Aliviado, while scoring 18 runs and reaching base at a team-high .413 clip. Aiding the cause is a team-best mark of 22 walks. Aliviado is right at his heels, hitting .290 with six (6) doubles, four (4) homers and a triple, pacing the team with 20 runs scored.
 
On the mound, Tyler Brashears shined for the 'Bows against UCD, pitching career highs of eight innings and nine (9) strikeouts in the second game of the series. On the year, Brashears holds a 4-3 record and 2.49 ERA, taking over the lead with a 37 strikeouts in 50.2 innings. LJ Brewster has opened up most weekends for the 'Bows, also with a 4-3 record and 2.21 ERA, tallying 34 strikeouts in 53 innings. Rounding out the likely rotation, Jarrett Arakawa has been steady since returning to action, logging a 2.01 ERA and 2-0 record, with 12 strikeouts in 22.1 innings.
 
Games 33-35
What: Hawai'i Rainbow Warriors (12-20, 3-3 BWC) at Cal Poly Mustangs (10-18, 1-2 BWC)
When:  Friday (April 10), 6:00 p.m. PT (3:00 p.m. HT)
            Saturday (April 11), 6:00 p.m. PT (3:00 p.m. HT)
            Sunday (April 12), 1:00 p.m. PT (10:00 a.m. HT)
Where: San Luis Obispo, Calif.
Live Video Streaming: Cal Poly Athletics will stream the games live on Big West TV at: gopoly.com/links/1comu1
Radio: ESPN Honolulu 1420 AM with Mel Proctor and fans 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 Cal Poly Athletics throughout the series at the links listed below.
    Game 1: http://bit.ly/1c30uje
    Game 2: http://bit.ly/1H0UKlH        
    Game 3: http://bit.ly/1DG4imN