HONOLULU – The University of Hawai'i baseball team (8-6) kicks off another eight-game homestand this weekend as host to the Illinois State Redbirds (8-5) in a four-game series running Thursday-Saturday at Les Murakami Stadium.
 
Coming off an extremely tough series at then-13th-ranked LSU, the Rainbow Warriors look to bounce back in the pitcher-friendly confines of Murakami Stadium against an upstart ILSU squad. Although the UH team ERA took a knock from the big-hitting Tigers, the Rainbow Warriors still remain ranked 20th nationally with a Big West-leading 2.63.

Although first-game starter junior Jackson Rees ranks 90th nationally with a team-high 1.42 ERA and 21 strikeouts, he will be held out of the series. Making his first career start in Rees' place, Abbotsford, British Columbia freshman right-hander Cade Smith will step to the mound for UH. Coming off a one-hit three inning appearance at LSU, Smith holds a 2.25 ERA and 0-1 record, striking out seven in eigth relief innings.
 
At the plate, junior shortstop Maaki Yamazaki emerged from Baton Rouge hitting 5-for-12 with a double and a home run, leading the Rainbow Warriors with a .311 batting average this season. Yamazaki comes in as the NCAA's 15th toughest batter to strikeout, getting fanned just twice in 45 at-bats.
 
Sophomore outfielder Adam Fogel continues to be a power-hit leader for Hawai'i batting .306 with 10 of his 15 hits going for extra bases, including an NCAA 26th-ranked seven doubles. Fogel also tops the squad with eight RBI and nine runs. Tying Fogel for the team lead in hits, junior third baseman Ethan Lopez is batting .283 with six runs and five RBI. The trio are the lone Rainbow Warriors to start every game this season.
 
Rees finished with the best outing against the Tigers, going six innings with seven hits and two runs to earn his second win of the season. Meanwhile, Logan Pouelsen remains ranked seventh in the Big West ERA standings at 2.65, also ranking seventh with a UH starter-leading .210 average against.
 
Illinois State finished last year as the runner-up at the Missouri Valley Conference tournament and were selected fifth in the preseason poll after a 16-40 season in 2017. However, the Redbirds returned all nine position starters and a notable portion of their pitching. So far in 2018, ILSU has made the most of its experience, jumping out to an 8-5 start and coming off a signature 3-1 series win at Washington. Illinois State has not played a home game yet this season and will open up Thursday nearly 4,200 miles from their home in Normal, Ill.
 
A preseason All-MVC selection, junior shortstop Owen Miller has been getting it done for the Redbirds, co-leading the team with a .311 average, logging 12 RBI and a team-best 21 runs, reaching base at a .420 clip. Also hitting .311, Senior catcher Collin Braithwaite has proven plate presence, collecting 14 RBI and 16 runs, along with a .485 on-base percentage. Six players bat over .300 with multiple extra base knocks, leading the team to a 15-ranked .315 team average with 9.6 runs per outing.
 
On the mound, the Redbirds hold a 6.27 team ERA with sophomore right-hander Brady Huffman leading the charge. Huffman has a 3.38 ERA with team highs of 26 strikeouts in 21.1 innings, walking nine batters and is expected to start Friday night's game. Likely to close out the series on Saturday, sophomore lefty Colton Johnson leads the team with a 3.21 ERA, striking out 10 with seven walks in 14 innings. Freshman Jack Anderson is projected to make his first career start and appearance on Thursday while sophomore RHP Brent Headrick (7.58 ERA, 1-1, 19.0 IP, 17 SO, 8 BB) will fill the other Saturday slot. The Redbirds' opposition has put up 7.2 runs and 9.1 hits per game this season.
 
These two programs meet for the first time in history this weekend and the Rainbow Warriors face their first school from Illinois since topping Chicago State in the 2016 series, 3-1, at Les Murakami Stadium.
 
After squaring off with the Redbirds, the Rainbow Warriors will take in a four-game series with Seton Hall for the final home non-conference series of the season, March 23-26, heading out the following two weeks for the start of Big West play. 
 
University of Hawai'i Games 15-18
What: Hawai'i Rainbow Warriors (8-6) vs. Illinois State Redbirds (8-5)
When:  Thursday, March 15, 6:35 p.m. HT
              Friday, March 16, 6:35 p.m. HT
              (DH) Saturday, March 17, 1:05 p.m. HT
Where: Honolulu, O'ahu (Les Murakami Stadium)
Television: The first two games of the series (Thursday-Friday) will be televised on Spectrum Sports
Live Video Streaming: BigWest.tv
Radio: All games will be broadcast live on the radio with Jim Leahey covering each game on the call. Josh Pacheco will cover Thursday and Friday's contests as well, with Scott Robbs joining call on Saturday. All games will air on ESPN Honolulu 1420 AM. Neighbor islands can listen to games 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 Hawai'i Athletics throughout the series at the links listed below.

Game 1

Game 2

Game 3

Game 4

Promotions: First Hawaiian Bank is the series sponsor and will be giving away great prizes each day.  Throwback Thursday (Mar. 15) will feature discounted ticket 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 of the first game on Saturday near the Big West Conference logo on the ground level).