HONOLULU – After challenging non-conference schedules, the University of Hawaii baseball and softball teams will each open Big West Conference play this weekend.
The Rainbow Warriors (9-16) completed their non-conference schedule with a 9-3 loss at Loyola Marymount on Wednesday and begin Big West play with a three-game series at UC Irvine (11-10) starting at 3:30 p.m. (Hawaii time) Friday. The series continues at 10 a.m. Saturday and wraps up at 10 a.m. Sunday.
The first two games of the series will be televised live on ESPN3, and all three game will be broadcast live on radio via NBC Sports Radio 1500 AM.
The Anteaters are coming off a three-game home sweep of Cal State Bakersfield, including a 4-3 victory in 11 innings in last Sunday’s series finale.
The Rainbow Wahine (19-14) begin Big West Conference action at home with a three-game series vs. UC Riverside (28-7). The series begins with a 6 p.m. single game Friday followed by a 4 p.m. doubleheader on Saturday.
UH is coming off a nine-day hiatus after splitting a doubleheader vs. Columbia on March 17, winning the first game, 5-1, before dropping the nightcap, 7-6.
Sophomore first baseman/pitcher Heather Morales leads the team with a .356 batting average and 26 runs batted in, to go along with five home runs and two doubles. Sophomore shortstop Sarina Jaramillo is second on the team with a .340 batting average, with catcher/outfielder Kayla Wartner third at .330 with a team-high 27 runs scored and 20 walks, to go with eight doubles and eight home runs.
Redshirt freshman Brittany Hitchcock leads the Rainbow Wahine pitchers with a 9-5 record and 2.56 earned run average, with seven complete games and two shutouts in 98 and one-third innings over 20 appearances. Sophomore Kanani Aina Cabrales is 9-9 with a 3.01 ERA and a team-high 70 strikeouts over 95 and one-third innings, including seven complete games and three shutouts.
NO. 1-RANKED RAINBOW WARRIOR SPIKERS HIT ROAD: The No. 1-ranked UH men’s volleyball team will defend that perch starting with a pair of road matches at UC San Diego on Friday and Saturday.
Both matches are set to start at 4 p.m. Hawaii time.
The Rainbow Warriors (17-3 overall, 12-2 Mountain Pacific Sports Federation) are ranked No. 1 for the second straight week in the American Volleyball Coaches Association poll after having no matches last weekend. UH is also No. 1 in the latest Ratings Percentage Index.
UC San Diego is 2-19 overall and 0-15 in the MPSF.
The Rainbow Warriors, who have won 10 straight matches, will continue the road trip with a pair of matches at No. 12 UCLA on Monday and Tuesday. UH senior middle blocker Taylor Averill leads the MPSF in hitting percentage at .494. Junior libero Kolby Kanetake leads the conference in digs, averaging 2.96 digs per set.
RAINBOW WARRIOR, RAINBOW WAHINE HOOPS BANQUETS SET: The UH men’s and women’s basketball teams will host their annual postseason banquets next month.
The Rainbow Wahine banquet is set for 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. April 12 at the Ala Moana Hotel’s Hibiscus Ballroom. Registration will start at 11:30 a.m. with buffet lunch starting at noon.
Tickets are $65 each, with a $10 discount for Rainbow Wahine Booster Club members and children’s tickets available for $29. Fans may also purchase a table of eight plus two UH players and/or coaches for $700 ($600 for Booster Club members and $900 for corporate sponsors).
Fans may also sponsor a player for $55.
All proceeds will go toward the women’s basketball team’s summer school fund. Deadline for RSVP and full payment is April 3. For more information, go to the UH athletics Web site at www.hawaiiathletics.com or call Mel Nakao at (808) 220-1585 or email a message to mnakaowbb@gmail.com
The UH men’s basketball banquet will be held April 29 at the Sheraton Waikiki, with no-host cocktails starting at 5:30 p.m. and dinner and program starting at 6:30.
Tickets are $150 each, with tables also available for purchase. Order forms are available for download via www.hawaiiathletics.com or by calling Bobbie Omoto at (808) 956-6501. For best seating, forms should be turned in by April 22.
GISMERVIK AT NCAA DIVING CHAMPIONSHIPS: UH junior Amund Gismervik will compete at the NCAA Diving Championships Thursday through Saturday at Iowa City, Iowa.
Gismervik will represent the Rainbow Warriors in all three events (1-meter, 3-meter and platform).
Fans can follow the results at www.ncaa.com
