HONOLULU – Following a series win on the road to open Big West play, Hawai'i returns home to host a nonconference series against long-time rival San Diego State Friday through Sunday at Les Murakami Stadium.
 
After starting the year with seven games against Power 5 opponents, the 'Bows come into this weekend having won nine of their last 12 games, with three straight series wins. UH leads the all-time series against the Aztecs, 79-69, with this meeting marking the first weekend series since 2006.
 

HAWAI'I (12-7, 2-1 Big West) vs. SAN DIEGO STATE (6-13, 2-7 Mountain West)
Dates & Times				Friday, Mar. 22 - 6:35 p.m. Saturday, Mar. 23 - 6:35 p.m. Sunday, Mar. 24 - 1:05 p.m.
Location				Honolulu, O'ahu -- Les Murakami Stadium
Radio				CBS 1500 (Friday, Saturday) | ESPN Honolulu (Sunday)
TV/Live Stream				None
Live Stats				Friday | Saturday | Sunday
PDF Notes				Hawai'i | San Diego State
Social Media				@HawaiiBaseball  | @Hawaiibsb
Promotions				Friday (Mar. 22): Hawai'i Baseball kicks off the weekend with their Friday night tradition of the Tropical Turn Up! Please join us at the mauka grass of the Les Murakami Stadium an hour before first pitch for games, autographs, and music by select DJs. Buy your food and drinks from the concessions located on the concourse level and bring it down to the Tropical Turn Up at the Les. Saturday (Mar. 23): Little League teams or groups that have purchased a group rate package are invited onto the field to stand alongside the UH baseball players for the National Anthem & Hawai'i Pono'i prior to Saturday's game (Check-in 30 minutes prior to first pitch on the ground level). Group-rates and ticket discounts available for select games.  Sunday (Mar. 24) We will start another tradition at the Les! Starting this season Coach Hill and the Hawai'i Baseball team invite youth attending the last game of each series to run the bases after the game. Please meet with the marketing staff immediately following the game on the ground level. Marketing staff will escort the keiki out to the field. Families can wait for their keiki outside the first base line gate.
Projected Rotations				Hawai'i Friday -- RHP Alex Giroux (3-0, 2.92) Saturday -- LHP Randy Abshier (0-1, 5.55) Sunday -- TBD	San Diego State Friday -- RHP Jacob Riordan (2-1, 5.04) Saturday -- RHP Omar Serrano (1-2, 2.17) Sunday -- RHP Xavier Cardenas (1-3, 7.40)

HEAD COACH RICH HILL
At Hawai'i: 69-51, 3rd season
Collegiate Record: 1,148-789-4, 37th season

SERIES VS. SAN DIEGO STATE
Hawai'i leads, 79-69
Last Meeting: 2023 in San Diego (SDSU won, 3-2)

LEADING OFF 
DID YOU KNOW?
Alex Giroux is the only Big West pitcher this year to throw at least 7.2 innings and earn the win, doing so last week at Bakersfield in his first start in the Friday night role. Giroux owns a 2.70 ERA in his seven career starts.
 
WALK IT OUT
The Rainbow Warriors have been one of the best teams in the country at drawing free passes through the first month of the season. UH is currently 14th in the country and first in the Big West with 133 walks while also getting hit by 31 pitches to amount to 164 free passes. The 'Bows are also second in the conference and 46th nationally with a .423 OBP and are the only team in the conference with an equal number of strikeouts to walks.
 
SERIES WIN IN BAKERSFIELD
Hawai'i opened Big West play by taking two of three games on the road at Cal State Bakersfield. In their first trip to the mainland this year, the 'Bows took Friday and Saturday's games before falling on a walk-off Sunday. Alex Giroux pitched 7.2 shutout innings to lead UH to a 2-0 win in Friday's game while the 'Bows scored the first nine runs of Saturday's game before holding on to win 11-7 and clinch the series victory.
 
WALK IT OUT
The Rainbow Warriors have shown some high-level plate discipline over the first month of the season, drawing 133 walks to rank 14th nationally and lead the Big West by a wide margin. Hawai'i has worked an average of 7.0 walks per game while also getting hit by a pitch 31 times for a total of 164 free passes. Ben Zeigler-Namoa is first on the team and second in the conference with 19 walks while Austin Machado is third in the Big West with 18. Matthew Miura is third on the team and fifth in the league with 17.
 
INSTANT IMPACT
A transfer from St. John's, Austin Machado has made an instant impact in the middle of the Hawai'i lineup. Machado is second on the team with a .371 batting average and leads the team and is fourth in the conference with a .529 on-base percentage. The junior has shown an elite level of plate discipline, drawing 18 walks while striking out just six times in 85 plate appearances. Machado also has reached base in all 19 games this year.
 
LIGHTS OUT BULLPEN
The Rainbow Warrior bullpen has been lights out over the first month of the season. UH has leaned on its relievers to shoulder the majority of the workload, accounting for 61.8 percent of the team's innings pitched and 57.3 percent of the strikeouts. Additionally, Hawai'i bullpen arms have combined to earn nine of the team's 12 wins while owning a 3.27 ERA among other impressive stats.
 
Notable Bullpen Stats
ERA – 3.27
W-L Record – 9-3
Innings Pitched – 104.2
Strikeout-to-Walk – 98-40
Batting Average Against  – .240
 
MR. CONSISTENT
After being the first man out of the bullpen the first four weeks of the season, Alex Giroux moved to the role of Friday night starter last week at Bakersfield. Giroux tossed 7.2 shutout innings against the Roadrunners, allowing just four hits while striking out three. On the year, the junior is 3-0 with a 2.92 ERA and 23 strikeouts over a team-high 24.2 innings pitched.
 
» Only pitcher in the Big West this year to throw at least 7.2 shutout frames and earn the win.
» Owns a career 2.70 ERA with 15 strikeouts and 21 hits allowed over 23.1 career innings as a starter.
» Went 4-2 in 2023 with 52 strikeouts to just 14 walks over 57.1 innings, holding opponents to a .224 batting average.