DENVER – University of Hawai`i freshman shortstop, Jessica Iwata, was named the Verizon Western Athletic Conference Hitter of the Week, for April 5-11. This is the first-ever honor for Iwata.

Iwata, a Lihu`e, Kaua`i native and Kaua`i High School graduate, helped lead the 'Bows to series sweeps of Utah State and Boise State on the road last week. She led UH in average (.600), slugging percentage (1.600) and on-base percentage (.636) in five games. She went 12-for-20 at the plate, with a team-high six home runs--including two grand slams--and 17 RBI in five games last week. In UH's first game of the week at Utah State, she put the game away in the top of the sixth with her first career grand slam. In the second half of the doubleheader, she matched her career high racking up four hits—two singles, a double and a home run. In the series finale at Boise State, Iwata went 3-for-3 and tied the school and WAC record with three home runs in a single game and drove in a school-record eight RBI, tying the WAC single-game record. Iwata hit safely in all five games and is in the middle of a career-high 11 game hitting streak.

Overall, Iwata is hitting .398 (51-for-128) with 42 runs scored, 13 home runs, 41 RBI and a team-high 16 doubles in her rookie season.

This marks the seventh time this season that a Rainbow Wahine has been selected for a WAC weekly honor. Fellow freshman, centerfielder Kelly Majam, has earned the Hitter of the Week award twice and senior catcher Katie Grimes was selected last week. Sophomore pitcher, Stephanie Ricketts, has been named the WAC's Pitcher of the Week twice this year while freshman Kaia Parnaby has earned it once this season.

Louisiana Tech's ace, Meghan Krieg, was named the WAC Pitcher of the Week, after going a perfect 3-0 on the week with a 1.33 ERA. She recorded three complete-game victories while holding opponents to a .187 batting average on the week. In 21.0 innings, Krieg allowed 14 hits while striking out 25 batters.

The Rainbow Wahine return home to battle Louisiana Tech in a three-game series this weekend, with a single game on Friday, April 16 at 6:00 p.m. with a doubleheader on Saturday, April 17 starting at 4:00 p.m. On Saturday, the Rainbow Wahine will be wearing specially designed pink uniforms as they support Under Armour's “Power in Pink” Campaign to fight breast cancer.