Hawai'i Game Notes | New Mexico Game Notes

HONOLULU – The University of Hawai'i Rainbow Warrior baseball team opens at home this weekend, facing off with an old Western Athletic Conference foe, New Mexico, meeting for the first time since 1999. The four-game series will run from Friday to Monday (Feb. 19-22) at Les Murakami Stadium.

The Rainbow Warriors and Lobos reopen a series dating back to 1980 when the Lobos were in the WAC, UH is looking to defend a commanding 55-24 series lead, including a 34-6 advantage when playing in Honolulu.

The Lobos are an aggressive, veteran offensive team and projected to reach an NCAA Regional this season, and are slated to challenge for the Mountain West title. A year ago, the Lobos went 32-27 and were 17-13 in the MW, falling in to San Diego State in the conference tournament title game.

For UNM, junior outfielder Danny Collier, sophomore third baseman Carl Stajduhar and junior first baseman Jack Zoellner were named to the preseason all-Mountain West Team. Zoellner ranked second last season among UNM hitters, batting .352 with a .418 on-base percentage, bringing in 33 runs and scoring 49 of his own. Stajduhar batted .322 and led the UNM scoring by a wide margin, logging 53 RBI and scoring 25 runs, ranking third in the MW with 21 doubles and a MW fourth-best nine homers. Collier also ranked among the top 2015 hitters, batting .346 with 28 RBI and 30 runs, putting up seven doubles and three triples. During the last campaign, the Lobos ranked second as a team in the MW with 141 doubles, as well as first in triples with 24.

The Lobos return several top pitchers from the 2015 rotation, led by sophomore right-hander Tyler Stevens, who started in 13-of-18 appearances a year ago, collecting a 5-4 record and 3.44 ERA, striking out 42 in 68 innings of action. Left-handed junior Carson Schneider also returns after starting in six of his 23 outings in 2015. Schneider went 5-1 with a 3.68 ERA, striking out 28 in 58 innings on the mound.

The only NCAA DI school to do so, the Rainbow Warriors jumped out with last weekend's inter-island competition, starting a week ahead of the rest of the nation and catching a preview of this year's squad. Returning seven position starters, UH split the weekend 1-1 with UH-Hilo. The opener was a low-scoring affair, largely because of the efforts of UHH's Jordan Kurokawa, who threw a near-perfect game in front of a near-capacity hometown crowd and several scouts there for him. The offense came alive in the second game, winning 11-9 after putting up 20 hits for only the second time in the last five years.

Senior center fielder Matt LoCoco proved to be the most consistent for the 'Bows, now extending his hit streak to four games back to last season. However, sophomore catcher Chayce Ka'aua and senior right fielder Alan Baldwin are leading the charge, batting .500 after two games. Senior shortstop Jacob Sheldon-Collins tops the squad with four hits, while sophomore first baseman Eric Ramirez recorded a team-leading three RBI on the opening weekend.

Making his debut against UHH, junior right-hander Brendan Hornung looks to be a fixture for the 'Bows' pitching staff, opening up with a 6.2-inning start, allowing one run on eight hits, striking out three. Also expected in the rotation is senior right-hander Kyle Von Ruden, who had a 4.47 ERA and 2-3 record last year in 16 appearances, and earned his first victory this season on Saturday at UHH. Also expected to see action in the rotation are 2015 relievers righty Josh Pigg and lefty Alex Hatch, both seniors.

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What: Hawai'i Rainbow Warriors (1-1) vs. New Mexico Lobos (0-0)
When: Friday, Feb. 19, 6:35 p.m.
            Saturday, Feb. 20, 6:36 p.m. 
Sunday, Feb. 21, 1:05 p.m.
Monday, Feb. 22, 5:35 p.m.  
Where: Honolulu, O'ahu (Les Murakami Stadium)
Television: OC Sports (TWC channels 16 [SD] and 1016 [HD] and Hawaiian Telcom channels 89 [SD] and 1089 [HD]) will broadcast the first two games of the series, Friday-Saturday. In the booth will be Kanoa Leahey and Sam Spangler.
Live Video Streaming: The TV broadcast will appear on Big West TV at http://bit.ly/UHBSB
Radio: All games will be broadcast live on the radio with Don Robbs and Scott Robbs on the call. ESPN Honolulu 1420 AM will air the games on Friday, Sunday and Monday, while NBC Sports 1500 AM will air Saturday's game due to a conflict with men's basketball in Big West action. 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 / www,NBCSportsradiohawaii.com
Live Stats: Live in-game stats will be provided by Hawai'i Athletics throughout the series at the links listed below.
        Game 1
        Game 2
        Game 3
        Game 4
Promotions: Outrigger Resorts is the series sponsor and will distribute a gift to the first 200 fans and award a two-night stay at an Outrigger property during each game of the series. Friday's contest will be followed by an autograph session on the field. Little League teams are invited onto the field to stand alongside the UH baseball players for the National Anthem & Hawaii Pono'i prior to Saturday's game (Check-in 30 min. prior to first pitch near the Big West Conference logo on the ground level).