Series with Fresno St. critical for Wahine

Advertiser Staff

The Rainbows (29-17, 10-2 WAC) entered the season as preseason favorites to win the conference by the league's coaches. But the Bulldogs (36-13, 9-1) have the better record and national ranking to boost their chances of earning an at-large bid for the NCAA tournament if they do not win the conference.

Meanwhile, UH needs all the help it can get.

"If we don't at least split, we aren't going anywhere," UH coach Bob Coolen said. "That's my gut feeling from serving on the regional (advisory) board."

The doubleheaders are set for 5 p.m. today and 2 p.m. tomorrow at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.

UH has a one-two punch on the mound in Sheri Oronoz (17-8, 1.78 ERA) and Melissa Coogan (9-7, 2.01), and at the plate in first baseman Stacey Porter (.345, 10 HR, 36 RBIs) and shortstop Kate Judd (.365, 9 HR, 28 RBIs).

Oronoz also packs a mean bat when not pitching. She is third on the team with four homers and 20 RBIs.

The Rainbows will face one of the best players in the country in freshman right-handed pitcher Jamie Southern, who has twice been named national player of the week this season. She is 24-6 with a microscopic 0.35 ERA, tops in the nation. She has completed 28 of 29 starts with 16 shutouts. She has 288 strikeouts in 242á innings. At one stretch, she pitched 52¡ consecutive scoreless innings.

Besides getting to watch one of the nation's best pitchers face UH single-season home run record holder Porter, spectators ages 18 and younger will be admitted to the stadium for free. They also will be allowed to purchase a $1 script that may be redeemed for a hotdog, chips and soda.