Cathedral City Classic Notes

The University of Hawai'i softball team (8-3) concludes its first roadtrip of the season with the Cathedral City Classic Feb. 25 - Feb. 27. The 'Bows went 4-1 at last week's Louisville-Slugger Desert Classic in Las Vegas, Nev. UH also won a single game at Loyola Marymount in Los Angeles, Calif. on Tuesday. The 'Bows face tough competition this weekend with games against Oklahoma State, UC Davis, Oregon, No. 9/12 Oklahoma, and No. 2 Arizona.

 

The Rainbow Wahine look to keep their offense clicking on all cylinders as they enter their third week of action. As a team, UH is hitting .340 and has outscored their opponents 86-36, averaging 7.81 runs per game, and racked up 96 runs with 16 doubles, 28 home runs and 81 RBI in just 11 games. The power surge can be attributed to a solid group of returnees joined by some very talented newcomers who have proved their mettle and solidified the line-up. Hitting has been contagious with seven-of-nine offensive starters hitting about .300 to this point. All nine offensive starters have hit at least two home runs and as a team, they've managed to launch at least one homer in each of the last seven games.

Reigning Verizon Wireless WAC Hitter of the Week, Kelly Majam, led the Rainbow Wahine to a 4-1 record at the Louisville-Slugger Desert Classic last week. She hit a WAC-best .750 (12-of-16) with seven RBI, a 1.313 slugging percentage and a .810 on-base percentage. She led the team in runs (10), hits (12), doubles (3) and walks (5). Majam had at least one hit in all five games and multiple hits in four games. Currently, the freshman centerfielder from Pine Valley, Calif., leads UH with a .514 average, 15 runs scored, 18 hits, three doubles and seven walks.

Junior third baseman, Melissa Gonzalez, has also gotten off to a hot start after missing much of last season with injury. Gonzalez has made up for the missed time by anchoring the defense at third base, hitting .429 (15-for 35) with 10 runs scored, two doubles, and four home runs. She also leads the team with six multiple hit games.

Also posting consistent numbers has been senior first baseman, Amanda Tauali'i, who is hitting .424 (14-for-33) with a team-high five home runs and 13 RBI. Tauali'i has hit safely in 10-of-11 games.????Sophomore Alex Aguirre has started the last eight games in the outfield and has seized the opportunity, emerging as a solid performer, hitting .407 (11-for-27) with two doubles and three homers.

On the mound, the pitching staff has been led by Aussie freshman, Kaia Parnaby (5-0). During this past week's Desert Classic, Parnaby posted a 3-0 record and earned WAC Pitcher of the Week honors for her efforts. In 17.0 innings, she gave up five earned runs with one shutout, striking out 21 and holding opponents to a .261 batting average. Overall, she has a 1.21 ERA with 10 walks and 39 strike outs.

Sophomore Stephanie Ricketts evened her record at 3-3 in UH's last game at Loyola Marymount on Tuesday, Feb. 23, with a six-hit shut-out. Ricketts has tossed a total of 36.0 innings with 14 walks and 24 strike outs and a 3.11 ERA.