UH hitters have power turned on

In the midst of the non-conference grind, Hawaii softball coach Bob Coolen can sense when to ease off the reins a bit.

After completing a four-day tournament on Sunday, the Rainbow Wahine had two days to recharge before opening the Outrigger Resorts Spring Fling Tournament on Wednesday.

With six games scheduled over the next five days, the team had a weight-room session on Monday and the coaches allowed the players to address areas they needed to work on in practice as they look to roll the momentum of a three-game winning streak into Wednesday’s game against Oregon State.

"They need to stay on top of a routine that keeps them in shape. They need to make sure they’re on task with the academics. … Everything needs to be in their place rather than stressing out," Coolen said.

"Right now is all about staying healthy and staying focused."

Coolen said the Wahine (12-8) enter the Spring Fling "in a good place" after winning the final three games of the Pepsi Malihini Kipa Aloha Tournament. UH recovered from a dispiriting performance in a 12-4 loss to California last Thursday to beat San Jose State twice and Longwood once by an aggregate score of 28-7.

"Cal wasn’t a good game. We all know that. But we came out hungry after that," UH shortstop Sarina Jaramillo said after Sunday’s 6-3 win over San Jose State.

The Wahine had hit 12 home runs in their first 16 games before exploding for 11 over the past four contests, with seven starters hitting at least one.

Senior catcher Kayla Wartner continues to pace UH at the plate at .400 with six home runs. Center fielder and leadoff hitter Lindsey Willmon has driven in a team-high 17 runs.

Kanani Aina Cabrales (7-5, 2.28 ERA) appeared in all four games last week and earned wins in the last three. Coolen is hoping to get more innings out of Brittany Hitchcock (4-3, 3.55), who continues to work into game shape after sitting out last season with an injury, and Heather Morales (1-0, 2.44). Both went two innings in their last starts before Aina Cabrales entered in relief.

"I need five, six innings (from Hitchcock and Morales) and Nani to close," Coolen said. "Keep her fresh, give her a start here and there and try to make it through the tournament, because we have the bulk of our games coming up."

Having come up empty in three meetings against Pac-12 opponents this season, the tournament offers the Wahine four more chances with two meetings each with Oregon State (16-5) and Utah (12-4).

The Wahine also face Longwood (2-8), which played in last week’s tournament, and East Carolina (6-11).

Oregon State catcher Hannah Akamine was named the Pac-12 player of the week on Monday after helping the Beavers average nearly 13 runs per game in a 5-0 run in the Fresno State Louisville Slugger Bash last week.

Kapolei graduate Mikela Manewa transferred to Oregon State this year and is hitting .390 with 20 RBIs and two home runs. Kori Nishitomi, a Maryknoll graduate who began her college career at Longwood, enters the tournament at .214.

Mililani graduate Kacie Oshiro is hitting .400 in 10 games for East Carolina.