LIHU‘E — The second phase of their record-setting season gets in full swing today as the University of Hawai‘i Rainbow Wahine softball team plays its first NCAA regional game against UC Davis at 12 p.m. UH, seeded 16th nationally and
LIHU‘E — The second phase of their record-setting season gets in full swing today as the University of Hawai‘i Rainbow Wahine softball team plays its first NCAA regional game against UC Davis at 12 p.m.
UH, seeded 16th nationally and the top seed in its four-team Stanford region, hopes to continue playing the powerful brand of softball it has become known for, following a season in which it set the new NCAA team home run record with 141.
Much of that power was recognized Thursday with five ‘Bows earning Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-West Region honors — three on the first team, two on the second.
Kaua‘i’s Jessica Iwata, shortstop, made the second team after earning Western Athletic Conference Player of the Year in her freshman season. Iwata enters the NCAA tournament with a .404 batting average, 17 home runs, 53 RBIs and 21 doubles — the latter a UH single-season record.
Outfielder Kelly Majam made the first team a week after winning WAC Freshman of the Year. Majam set two UH records with 28 homers and 72 runs scored. She leads the ‘Bows with a .409 average, 58 RBIs and a .957 slugging percentage.
Third baseman Melissa Gonzalez was a first-team choice after hitting .399 with 23 home runs and 55 RBIs.
Jenna Rodriguez was the third first-teamer with a .361 average, 12 doubles, 14 home runs, 47 RBIs and 31 runs. She is taking a 13-game hitting streak into today’s action.
Pitcher Stephanie Ricketts joined Iwata on the second team, finishing the season 24-7 with a 2.37 ERA. Ricketts earned WAC Pitcher of the Year honors, going 13-0 in conference play.
NFCA All-American teams will be announced June 2.
In today’s regional action, No. 1 seed UH (44-13, 19-1 WAC) will face the Big West champions, UC Davis (26-27, 15-6 Big West), the No. 4 seed.
The teams did play each other once this season with UH coming away with an 8-5 victory at the Cathedral City Classic in February. The team was led in that win by Iwata’s 3 for 4 day with a home run.
In the second game, No. 2 Stanford (36-17, 8-13 Pac-10) will take on Texas Tech (36-16, 7-11 Big 12) at 3 p.m. HT.
Coverage of the Hawai‘i-UC Davis game will be available ESPN 1420 AM and webcast on www.gostanford.com.
Live stats will be available at www.hawaiiathletics.com.
Three regional games will be played Saturday with the championship decided Sunday.
Friday (HST)
12 p.m. Hawai‘i vs. UC Davis
3 p.m. Stanford vs. Texas Tech
Saturday (HST)
9 a.m. Game 3 – Winner Game 1
vs. Winner Game 2
12 p.m. Game 4 – Loser Game 1
vs. Loser Game 2
3 p.m. Game 5 – Loser Game 3
vs. Winner Game 4
Sunday HST
10 a.m. Game 6 – Winner
Game 3 vs. Winner Game 5
12:30 p.m. Game 7 – Winner
Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6 (if nec.)
