UH Game Notes

HONOLULU – The University of Hawai'i Rainbow Warrior baseball team kicks off the 2015 season a week earlier than the rest of the nation, heading to the Big Island to resume its most extensive rivalry series, visiting the UH-Hilo Vulcans in a two-game weekend at Francis Wong Stadium, Saturday, Feb. 13 (6:00 p.m.) and Sunday, Feb. 14 (1:00 p.m.). The opening weekend set also ends an expansive drought of season-openers on the road, dating back to 1994.

Hawai'i and UH-Hilo are meeting for a season opener for the ninth time and the fourth at Wong Stadium. This is the first meeting since 2008 and first opener at Wong Stadium since 1985, resuming a series that spans 31 seasons and 128 games.

The Rainbow Warriors hold a commanding lead in the overall series, leading the Vulcans 108-20, and are looking to defend a 46-7 record when playing in Hilo.

The program will open on the road for the first time since 1994, a 20-season gap since defeating UH-Hilo at Vulcan Stadium, 7-3 in a late January start.
Head Coach Mike Trapasso enters his 15th season leading the Rainbow Warriors, who are coming off their best Big West finish (12-12) since joining the league in 2013, coming in fifth in the conference standings and generating a 21-32 overall record.

Despite heavy losses to the pitching staff due to graduation and three MLB Draft picks, the 'Bows return a tested bullpen with support from seven newly-recruited pitchers (including utility players), tallying six from the junior college ranks.

Last year, the Rainbow Warriors returned no primary pitching starters, but last season's game four starter, senior right-handed pitcher Kyle Von Ruden is back in the mix after posting a 4.47 ERA and 2-3 record in 16 appearances and six starts, striking out 26 with 12 walks.

Saturday will mark the official debut of one of the newest 'Bows in the pitching staff, junior right-hander Brendan Hornung, who pitched 64.1 innings across 12 starts as a 2015 sophomore at Chaffey College, earning a 5-2 record and 2.66 ERA, while notching 47 strikeouts with only 15 walks. He also boasted impressive numbers over the summer for the Inland Valley Pirates, striking out 27 in 25.1 innings. Appearing on the mound during the UH Alumni Game, Hornung went seven full innings, recording eight strikeouts, while allowing only one walk and one hit.

In the field this season, the 'Bows face a very different situation. Last year, seven first-year players saw significant action, most starting full time. This season, the Rainbow Warriors lose two seniors to graduation in center fielder Kaeo Aliviado (.248, 31 RBI, 26 R) and second baseman Stephen Ventimilia (.229, 13 RBI, 25 R), but return seven starters from a year ago. UH retains the services of the top five hitters from last season.

Leading the returners is senior shortstop Jacob Sheldon-Collins, who was a defensive stalwart for the 'Bows, but a slow starter at the plate early on in 2015. He steadily progressed and by mid-season, was beginning to find his stride—his average growing to the top of the UH charts at .295. Across the final 14 games of the season, including the toughest Big West stretch, Sheldon-Collins collected hits in 11 games, including multi-hit performances in six outings. Coming down the stretch against Arizona, he finished on a three-game hit streak that carries into 2016, batting 5-for-11, (.455) against the Wildcats, with two runs.

The Vulcans are coming off an 11-36 campaign and 7-25 PacWest Conference finish. Across 47 games in 2015, UH-Hilo batted .243 while logging a 5.46 team ERA.

While UH-Hilo loses top hitter Samuel Kim (.331, 24 RBI, 24 R) to graduation, the Vulcans return their next three leading hitters in sophomore outfielder Jonathan Segovia, junior infielder Byron Freitas and senior infielder Will Cleary. Segovia batted .304 in 30 games a year ago, accounting for 10 runs and three RBI, largely in a reserve role. A full-time infield starter, Freitas batted .266 with team highs of 28 runs, eight doubles and two triples, logging eight RBI. Cleary started just over half of 2015, batting .259 with five runs and four RBI.

The Vulcans lose top 2015 starter Jeremy Dela Cruz, but retain their other two primary starters. Senior right-hander Jordan Kurokawa is expected to open the season for UH-Hilo, registering a 3.07 ERA and 3-4 record in 2015, striking out 68 in 70.1 innings. David Moody is set up for Sunday, going 1-2 with a 3.44 ERA last season in 14 appearances.

---

What: Hawai'i Rainbow Warriors (0-0) at UH-Hilo Vulcans (0-0)
When: Saturday, Feb. 13, 6:00 p.m.
            Sunday, Feb. 14, 1:00 p.m.  
 Where: Hilo, Hawai'i (Francis Wong Stadium)
Television: None
Live Video Streaming: None
Radio: NBC Sports Radio 1500 AM will broadcast both games of the weekend in Hilo, broadcasting the opponent radio feed live. KHLO 850 AM's Josh Pacheco will be on the call. Neighbor islands can listen live on KNUI on Maui, KHLO in Hilo, KKON in Kona and KTOH on Kaua'i.
Audio Webcast: www.NBCsportsradiohawaii.com
Live Stats: Live in-game will be provide by UH-Hilo and are available at the link below.
UH-Hilo Live Stats for All Games
Series History: The Rainbow Warriors will meet the UH-Hilo Vulcans for the 129th time in program history, and 54th time in Hilo—UH's longest-standing series. The Rainbow Warriors hold a 108-20 advantage and 46-7 advantage at UHH. The Vulcans won the teams' last meeting in 2008, but UH won the series 2-1.