HONOLULU — The No. 21/25 University of Hawai‘i softball team (25-9, 3-0 WAC) heads to Fresno State (19-8, 3-0 WAC) for an important early Western Athletic Conference battle at Bulldog Diamond, states a release from the UH athletic department. The
HONOLULU — The No. 21/25 University of Hawai‘i softball team (25-9, 3-0 WAC) heads to Fresno State (19-8, 3-0 WAC) for an important early Western Athletic Conference battle at Bulldog Diamond, states a release from the UH athletic department. The opening game of the series will be televised today live on ESPNU at 4 p.m. HT (7 p.m. local).
Hawai‘i swept Utah State to open the WAC season, winning 5-2, 8-0 (6), and 2-0. Senior utility player Jasey Jensen led UH at the plate, hitting an even .500 (3 for 6) with a double and a home run, while sophomore shortstop Jessica Iwata hit .444 (4 for 9) with three runs scored, a double and a home run. Junior pitcher Stephanie Ricketts tossed two complete games wins, giving up two runs in 14.0 innings with a walk and 14 strikeouts.
This will be the first time that a Hawa‘i regular-season game will be televised nationally. The ‘Bows have been on ESPN’s family of networks 12 times — three games each at the the 2007 Regionals (at UCLA), 2007 Super Regionals (at Tennessee), 2010 Super Regionals (at Alabama), and 2010 Women’s College World Series.
Scouting Fresno State
The Bulldogs are 19-8 overall and 3-0 in WAC action after sweeping Louisiana Tech in Ruston, La. As a team, Fresno State is hitting .246 with an ERA of 2.25. Overall, senior shortstop Haley Gilleland leads the team with a .319 (29 for 91) average and 12 stolen bases. She is also tied for the top spot with 16 runs scored and five doubles.
Freshman third baseman Brooke Ortiz has made an immediate impact. She is second on the squad hitting .315 (28 for 89) and has scored the second-most runs (13). She has two doubles and two triples and is 8-of-10 in stolen bases.
Junior right fielder/pitcher Michelle Moses has team highs in RBIs (22) and home runs (8) and is tied for the team lead with 16 runs scored and five doubles.
The Bulldog pitching staff is led by Junior Mackenzie Oakes who is 12-2 overall with a 1.61 ERA. She has thrown 91.1 innings with 10 complete games and two shutouts, walking 23 and striking out 50.
Moses, who splits time between right field and pitching, is 6-6 on the season with a 3.00 ERA and a team-high 102 strikeouts to just 35 walks.
Today’s game can also be heard on ESPN 790 AM radio, as can both of Saturday’s doubleheader games, beginning at 10 a.m. HT (1 p.m. local).
