HONOLULU – The University of Hawai'i baseball team (5-2) will close out the season-opening homestand this weekend at Les Murakami Stadium, as host to 2017 West Coast Conference (WCC) Co-Champion Loyola Marymount (1-6). The four-game series is scheduled Thursday through Sunday (March 1-4) with three night games and a matinee finale.
 
The Rainbow Warriors last opened the season with a 5-2 or better record during the 2007 season when UH won 34 games. They are coming off a split series against a scrappy BYU Cougars squad – with both losses and one victory decided by a single run. BYU was the other WCC Co-Champ last season with LMU and went on to an NCAA Regional.
 
Stout pitching from both starters and relievers have been the foundation for Hawai'i in the early season, as the pitching staff ranks 19th nationally and first in the Big West with a 2.03 team ERA. Leading that charge for the starters, redshirt junior Jackson Rees holds a 1.50 ERA with a team-high 11 strikeouts, tossing five innings against BYU while overcoming an illness. Three tough relievers have also emerged in senior Colin Ashworth (0.00 ERA, 6.1 IP, 5 H, 1 BB, 9 K), freshman Cade Smith (1.93 ERA, 4.2 IP, 4 H, 3 BB, 4 K) and redshirt sophomore Kyle Hatton (0.00 ERA, 3.0 IP, 0 H, 2 BB, 1 K).
 
After lighting up the batter's box against Air Force, the hitting was not up to speed for UH against BYU, dropping the team average to .268. However, the Rainbow Warriors were still able to produce runs each outing to deliver the 2-2 series tie and rank third among conference team averages.
 
The obvious team leader early on has been sophomore right fielder Adam Fogel, who ranks third in the Big West with a .455 average. Six of his team-high 10 hits have gone for extra bases, namely a conference-leading four doubles and two home runs. He's reaching base at a .586 clip and has four RBI and six runs so far.
 
Quickly becoming a fan favorite, junior shortstop Maaki Yamazaki is hitting .333 with a pair of doubles, four RBI and two runs. He's already aided in five double plays for UH and ties third baseman Ethan Lopez for the team lead with 19 assists.
 
As for the Lions, who face Southern California before heading to the islands, Loyola Marymount is off to its toughest start since 2010. After opening on a winless weekend at the Marucci Desert Classic in Las Vegas, the Lions dropped an extra-innings affair to UC Irvine and a 1-2 series at home to Oregon.
 
Some cause for the low-win opening is the breaking in of a lot of new pitching. LMU returns only about 30 percent of its innings from a year ago and has only used one upperclassman in its pitching rotation early. The Lions have a 5.43 ERA as a team and are allowing nine hits and 5.9 runs per game.
 
At the plate, the Lions are batting .226, led by four-year senior starter in center field Billy Wilson, who is hitting .323 with team highs of 10 hits, five RBI and six runs. Also swinging the bat well early, first-team Junior College All-American Ryan Ruley is hitting .273 with four RBI and two runs, but missed two games against Oregon. Second-year starter at shortstop, Niko Decolati now ranks second with .313 hitting with four RBI, tying Wilson with six runs and 10 hits. He's also the team leader with five steals on a very aggressive team baserunning attack – the Lions collecting 17-of-18 steals so far. Wilson is also 4-for-4 on steals.
 
These teams will meet for the 42nd time, playing their first series since 2011, a split series in Los Angeles. Hawai'i swept in the last four-game series at Les Murakami Stadium, with 3-of-4 games decided by a single run. Hawai'i has lost the last two single-game meetings (2015, '16), but leads the overall series 29-12.
 
After wrapping up four games with the Lions this weekend, the Rainbow Warriors will make their first road trip of the year, traveling to Baton Rouge, La. to face 2017 College World Series runner-up and current No. 14 LSU at Alex Box Stadium.
 
University of Hawai'i Games 8-11
What: Hawai'i Rainbow Warriors (5-2) vs. Loyola Marymount Lions (1-6)
When:  Thursday, March 1, 6:35 p.m. HT
              Friday, March 2, 6:35 p.m. HT
              Saturday, March 3, 6:35 p.m. HT
              Sunday, March 4, 1:05 p.m. HT
Where: Honolulu, O'ahu (Les Murakami Stadium)
Television: The first two games of the series (Thurs.-Fri.) will be broadcast live on Spectrum Sports
Live Video Streaming: BigWest.TV
Radio: All games will air live on the radio. Thursday's series opener will appear on NBC Sports 1500 AM, while the three other games will air on ESPN Honolulu 1420 AM. Neighbor islands can listen to the final three games live on KNUI on Maui, KHLO in Hilo, KKON in Kona and KTOH on Kaua'i.
Audio Webcast: www.ESPN1420am.com | http://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: Promotions: Texaco is the series sponsor and will be giving away great prizes each day.  Throwback Thursday (Mar. 1) will feature discount tickets prices in the upper level (Adults - $5; Senior Citizen - $4; Youth (ages 4 to HS) - $3). Friday's contest will be followed by an autograph session on the field. Little League teams or groups that have purchased a group rate ticket package 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).  Sunday Funday (Mar. 4): Ticket Package 1 - $25 for family of four (two adults and two youth); Ticket Package 2 - $40 (four adults). Each ticket package includes four (4) upper level tickets, four (4) hot dogs, and four (4) bottle soda/water (while supplies last). Tickets can be purchased online, calling 944-2697 (option 2), walking up to the Les Murakami Stadium on game day or in advance at the Stan Sheriff Center Box Office.