HONOLULU--The University of Hawai'i softball team (16-16, 0-3 Big West) returns to host their home conference opener against Cal Poly (17-15, 1-2 Big West) this week. The two teams will square off in a single game on Friday, April 6 at 6:00 pm with a doubleheader on Saturday, April 7 at 2:00 pm. All three games will be played at the Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.
The Rainbow Wahine look to rebound after getting swept at Long Beach State last week in their Big West opener. The Beach won by scores of 5-0, 8-0 (5) and 6-3. LBSU silenced the 'Bows' bats until the third game when UH held the lead through the sixth inning, when the 49ers battled back for the 6-3 win. UH hit just .138 (9-for-65) in the three-game series.
Heen Providing Power Surge
Sophomore catcher/designated player
Callee Heen is one of just three players (along with
Nicole Lopez and
Danielle Garcielita) to have started all 32 games thus far this year. She is leading UH in 10 offenisive categories, including batting average (.391), total hits (36), runs scored (20), home runs (11), RBI (28), slugging percentage (.815), walks (11), on-base percentage (.477), multiple-hit games (9), and multiple-RBI games (8). Heen had her 14-game hit streak snapped as she went hitless in the first two games at LBSU, but in the series finaled she got back on track, going 2-for-3 with her team-leading 11th homer of the season.
Heen's 14-game hit streak that ended in Long Beach was the longest hitting streak since former Rainbow Wahine
Keiki Carlos hit safely in 15-straight games in 2013.
Heen is just the seventh Rainbow Wahine in the last five seasons to hit 10 or more home runs. Sixteen of her 36 hits have gone for extra bases this season (four doubles, one triple and 11 homers).
Rookie Rossi Coming On Strong
Rookie rightfielder
Britnee Rossi is one of UH's three hitters to be hitting over the .300 mark. Although the team struggled on offense at LBSU last week, Rossi remains second on the team with a .325 batting average (26-for-80). She is second on the team with a .413 on-base percentage and 10 walks and 26 total hits. Rossi is third on the team with 14 runs scored.
The speedy freshman has already hit two, inside-the-park home runs (vs. Idaho State (2/17) and against Cleveland State (3/17). Against CSU, Rossi cranked out two home runs in the game--including a three-run, walk off home run for the 6-5 win.
Lopez Staying Steady on Offense
Junior thirdbaseman
Nicole Lopez is the third player on the team hitting over .300. The three year starter is hitting .311 (32-for-103). She leads the 'Bows with five doubles and she is second on the team with 17 runs score, 32 hits, 15 RBI and a .505 slugging percentage.
For her career, she is hitting .309 with 22 home runs and 70 RBI. Lopez has started the last 138 straight games since her freshman year.
Thomsen Takes Reins In The Circle
Senior pitcher
Dana Thomsen has seen the bulk of the workload since fellow senior
Brittany Hitchcock went down with an injury. She has thrown a team-high 121.1 innings while seeing action in 11 of UH's last 14 games. She enters this week with a 3.24 ERA and a 9-10 overall record with 34 walks and 102 strikeouts.
Freshmen Klee and Martinez Seeing More Time in the Circle
Rookie southpaw
Emily Klee has made seven appearances in the last 14 games while posting a 2-1 overall record. She earned her first collegiate win in a 4.1 inning, relief appearance against Cleveland State. Klee made her first collegiate start against the Vikings in the same week and made her longest appearance, throwing 5.1 innings to earn her second win of the season. Last week, she suffered the loss in Game 2 vs. Long Beach State, throwing the first 3.0 innings. Overall, she has a 6.19 ERA in 26.0 innings pitched with 12 walks and 12 strikeouts.
Martinez made her longest appearance and her first career start at LBSU last week. She threw the complete games in a 6-1 loss. She comes into this week with a 5.79 ERA in 9.2 innings pitched.
Games 33-35 Hawai'i vs. Cal Poly
Teams: Hawai'i (16-16, 0-3 Big West) at Cal Poly (17-15, 1-2 Big West)
Dates: Friday, April 6 at 6:00 p.m.; Saturday, April 7 at 2:00 p.m. (DH)
Site: Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium (Honolulu, O'ahu) - 1,200
Promotions: Fantastic Sams Hair Salons is the series sponsor and will provide tote bags and shampoo products for the winners of the popular "Ballpark Bingo." Also, t-shirts will be thrown into the stands during the fourth inning.
Television: Spectrum Sports will broadcast all three games against Cal Poly with Scott Robbs handling the play-by-play and Lori Santi serving as the color analyst. Fans can catch the action live on Oceanic Time Warner Cable Channels 16 (SD) and 1016 (HD) –or- Hawaiian Telcom Channel 89 (SD) and 1089 (HD).
Live Video Streaming: Live video streaming will be available for mainland fans. Go to the HawaiiAthletics.com softball schedule page for links through BigWest.tv.
Livestats: Live in-game stats will be available at HawaiiAthletics.com
Series History: Hawai'i holds a slim 10-9 all-time record against Cal Poly (San Luis Obispo). Last year the Mustangs took the series in California, winning the first and third games. UH won the middle game 9-2.
OVERALL: 10-9 | HOME: 3-4 | AWAY: 6-3 | NEUTRAL: 1-2 | CONFERENCE: 8-7
| 2/24/95 |
vs Cal Poly - San Luis Obispo (Tempe, Ariz.) |
W, 4-0 |
| 3/25/95 |
vs. Cal Poly - San Luis Obispo (Sacramento, Calif.) |
L, 3-4 |
| 3/26/95 |
vs. Cal Poly - San Luis Obispo (Sacramento, Calif.) |
L, 1-5 |
| 2/13/98 |
Cal Poly - San Luis Obispo |
W, 3-0 |
| 4/19/13 |
at Cal Poly - San Luis Obispo( |
W, 4-0 |
|
at Cal Poly - San Luis Obispo* |
W, 3-1 |
| 4/20/13 |
at Cal Poly - San Luis Obispo* |
W, 2-1 |
| 4/18/14 |
Cal Poly - San Luis Obispo* |
L, 6-7(8) |
| 4/19/14 |
Cal Poly - San Luis Obispo* |
L, 1-4 |
|
Cal Poly - San Luis Obispo* |
L, 1-4 |
| 4/17/15 |
at Cal Poly - San Luis Obispo* |
W, 3-2 |
| 4/18/15 |
at Cal Poly - San Luis Obispo* |
L, 1-8 |
|
at Cal Poly - San Luis Obispo* |
W, 4-1 |
| 5/6/16 |
Cal Poly - San Luis Obispo* |
W, 3-2 |
| 5/7/16 |
Cal Poly - San Luis Obispo* |
L, 3-4 |
|
Cal Poly - San Luis Obispo* |
W, 1-0 (8) |
| 5/5/17 |
at Cal Poly - San Luis Obispo* |
L, 2-4 |
| 5/6/17 |
at Cal Poly - San Luis Obispo* |
W, 9-2 |
|
at Cal Poly - San Luis Obispo* |
L, 1-2 |
