April 10, 2008

Honolulu, HI (UWIRE) -- Les Murakami Stadium is the place to be tonight, as the University of Hawai'i Rainbow baseball team (13-20 overall, 5-7 Western Athletic Conference play) takes on the New Mexico State Aggies (14-16 overall, 4-4 WAC) in the first game of a four-game series.

The 'Bows have just returned from their 12-day mainland road trip, where they defeated the No. 28 Stanford Cardinal before taking three of four from the San Jose State Spartans.

New Mexico State put off conference play to take on the Hawai'i Pacific Sea Warriors on April 9, but resume WAC play with tonight's matchup against the 'Bows.

The two teams split their head-to-head meetings last season, taking three games apiece. Each team took two of three games at their home stadiums.

New Mexico State is currently ranked fourth in the nation in runs per game, but Hawai'i junior starting pitcher Jared Alexander, who owns a 2.57 earned run average, could put a halt to the Aggie offense.

The Rainbows and the Aggies will continue the series Friday at 6:30 p.m. and finish up with a doubleheader on Saturday, starting at 2:30 p.m. The 'Bows' next series is another four-game set against Nevada next weekend at Les Murakami Stadium.

(C) 2008 Ka Leo O Hawaii via UWIRE