RUSTON, La. — The University of Hawai‘i softball team (28-12, 6-3 WAC) takes off on its third road trip of the season to Ruston, La. to face Louisiana Tech (11-29, 2-7 WAC) in a three-game Western Athletic Conference series this
RUSTON, La. — The University of Hawai‘i softball team (28-12, 6-3 WAC) takes off on its third road trip of the season to Ruston, La. to face Louisiana Tech (11-29, 2-7 WAC) in a three-game Western Athletic Conference series this weekend. The ‘Bows open with a single game at 6 p.m. local time (1 p.m. HT) today and a doubleheader at 1 p.m. (8 a.m. HT) on Saturday at the Lady Techsters Softball Complex, states a release from the UH athletic department.
The Rainbow Wahine enter their fourth WAC series after sweeping Nevada in Honolulu last week. Sophomore shortstop Jessica Iwata now leads the team with a .311 batting average (38 for 122). She has accumulated a team-high 38 hits and 32 runs scored and is second on the team with 25 RBIs. She, along with freshman catcher Sharla Kliebenstein, are tied for the team lead with 11 home runs a piece.
Kliebenstein leads UH with 34 RBIs and is second on the team in average .297 (33 for 111), doubles (tied at seven with Kelly Majam), and runs scored (27) (tied with Majam). Kliebenstein also leads Hawai‘i with a .658 slugging percentage.
Senior utility player Jenna Rodriguez is third with a .295 average (36 for 122) and 21 RBIs.
Majam continues to move up the ranks in average. Overall, she has raised her average to .275 (30 for 109) and she leads UH in WAC play with a .320 average. Overall she leads UH with a .438 on-base percentage and 28 walks; while in the WAC, she leads Hawai‘i with five runs scored, eight hits, and two doubles (tied with Kliebenstein).
The pitching staff remains the core of the team and is 10th in the NCAA and leads the WAC overall with a combined 1.54 ERA. Junior pitcher Stephanie Ricketts remains the anchor of the squad with a 17-9 overall record and 4-2 mark in conference. She has a 1.65 ERA with 23 complete games and seven shutouts. Ricketts has walked 45, while striking out 196 in 173.2 innings pitched.
Sophomore southpaw Kaia Parnaby leads the WAC and is 10th in the NCAA with a 1.07 ERA overall. In the WAC, she is sporting a league-best 0.68 ERA. She is 10-3 and has completed all 12 games she has started with three shutouts and a save. In 84.2 innings, she has walked just 19 while fanning 103.
Scouting
Louisiana Tech
The 2011 Lady Techsters are 11-29 overall and 2-7 in conference action. They are led by freshman outfielder Cassie Krieg with a .281 average (16 for 57) in 20 games started in 25 appearances.
Janna Frandup is one of just three Lady Techsters to start all 40 games this season. She is hitting .264 (28 for 106) with a team-high 20 runs scored and 19 walks and is second on the team with four home runs and 16 RBI.
Molly Goza is a senior third baseman hitting .248 (27 for 109) with three doubles and two home runs.
Look out for junior utility Allie Geisler who, although she is hitting .224, leads her team with six homers, 18 RBIs and a .449 slugging percentage and senior second baseman Heather Dorion who is second on the team with 14 runs scored and is a perfect 8-of-8 in stolen bases.
The pitching staff is led by senior pitcher Meghan Krieg who is 7-16 with a 3.32 ERA. She has completed 18 games of 24 games started with one shutout and one save. In 152.0 innings, she has walked 71 while striking out 187 and holding opposing hitters to a .240 average.
Freshman Erin Kipp is 1-7 with a a 5.65 ERA in 62.0 innings pitched.
Sophomore Michelle Jones is 3-4 with 38.2 innings pitched and a 7.24 ERA while Frandup is 0-2 in 7.50 ERA in 9.1 innings.
Live video will be available at www.latechsports.com/allaccess/?media=230920
Live in-game stats will be available at www.hawaiiathletics.com.