It's only fitting that when head coach Kim Maher asked her Purdue softball players — "Which one teammate would you want with you if you were stuck on an island?" — that the answer more often than not was Liane Horiuchi.

Horiuchi, a 2005 Kamehameha graduate from Wahiawa, landed at college softball power Tennessee after high school, but transferred after her sophomore season in 2007.

After sitting out last season due to NCAA transfer rules, Horiuchi has quickly made an impact for the Boilermakers.

"I just heard that she wanted to go to an institution that puts more of a focus on academics, but we couldn't approach her until she got her release from Tennessee," Maher said. "Once that happened, we contacted her and we could offer what she wanted academically and also a Division I softball team."

Horiuchi, a three-time Advertiser All-State selection at second base, has played both middle infield positions and recently took over as the starting third baseman.

"Defensively, she's so talented, she can probably play anywhere, including catcher. But for us, she's better suited at third base," Maher said. "We needed someone quick and mobile and able to cover the bunts. We have a senior at shortstop, who has started for three years and for team chemistry purposes, we asked Horiuchi to play third and she was willing to do it because she wanted to do what was best for the team."

Horiuchi, who has started all 11 games this season, has a team-leading .355 batting average with five RBIs, eight runs scored and a .645 slugging percentage while in the leadoff spot. She also leads the team in stolen bases, swiping 11 of 11.

"She's done an excellent job for us. She has a great arm, she's fearless at the corner and gives us great range defensively," Maher said. "Offensively, she's been a table-setter for us, always finding a way to get on base and because of her speed, we're able to steal her — whether it be a straight steal, protected steal or even a delayed steal."

At last weekend's War Eagle Classic, hosted by Auburn, the Boilermakers went 3-1 en route to the tournament title, and Horiuchi powered Purdue in a 6-4 win over Austin Peay. She batted 2 for 4 with a three-run homer, stole a base and scored twice. In a 3-1 win over Auburn, she drove in a run, scored another, walked twice and stole a base.

"She has very good instincts and great speed to go with a very good jump," Maher said of Horiuchi's base running. "Her having come from Tennessee and being at the College World Series and playing for a national championship, we expected her to bring in that kind of experience and mentor our younger players and hopefully take us into the postseason."

Purdue, which handed No. 3 UCLA one of its two losses this season, had a 35-23 record last year. The Boilermakers went 9-9 in the Big Ten and finished fifth in the conference.

Purdue, which is 7-4, next plays in the Buzz Classic, hosted by Georgia Tech, March 6 to 8.

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