Wahine up against
an All-American
She's human. Capable of imperfection.
At least that's what the Rainbow Wahine softball team needs to think as it faces No. 16 Fresno State (33-12, 6-0) and All-American ace Jamie Southern in a pivotal four-game series.
UH faces its biggest Western Athletic Conference rival in doubleheaders tomorrow (5 p.m.) and Saturday (3 p.m.) at the Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.
"We have our work cut out for us against Jamie Southern," UH coach Bob Coolen said. "We're going to have a tough time with her. Even though we've hit her in the past, we don't get very many runs off her.
"They'll come out swinging for the fences. I'm hoping we come out with enough poise not to have an adrenaline overrush. That's where I'm concerned. I hope we're able to control our emotions. It's such a big rivalry for us."
It might be difficult for the Wahine to control their emotions considering what's at stake. Hawaii (22-19, 4-0) has everything to gain and nothing to lose. Both teams are undefeated in conference play, and this series could decide the supreme team in the WAC. The Rainbow Wahine are the reigning conference champions and it's a title the Bulldogs, winners in six of the past eight seasons, want back.
"I've been ready all week. I'm amped," UH junior pitcher Melissa Coogan said. "Everyday, I'm hoping it's Friday already. I'm ready to play.
"This game matters a little more because the WAC title is riding on these games."
The rivalry has been mostly one-sided until recently. Hawaii has eight victories in 52 previous meetings. Five of those wins have come in the past three years. Last year the teams split in Fresno, with UH winning the first doubleheader.
The Rainbow Wahine are sure to see Southern (22-5) more than once this weekend. Hawaii will counter Southern with its 1-2 combination of Coogan (8-10) and WAC Pitcher of the Week Shannon Tabion (14-6). A shuffle in the batting order could give Hawaii a bit more fire power early, but Coolen knows that the change isn't all that imposing.
"You look at our lineup and it's not formidable," Coolen said. "We're going to put all our hitters in this game and hopefully they'll ignite each other."
It'll definitely be tough with Southern continuing last season's dominance. The right-hander owns a 0.26 ERA and strikes out more than a third of the batters she faces. Southern leads the WAC in career strikeouts with 974.
"She's a great pitcher, but we got to go in there thinking she's human like us, puts her clothes on the same way," sophomore shortstop Ashley Ruff said. "We just have to go up there and know that we can hit her and not be intimidated. I think we should be all right."
Knowing you can hit Southern and actually hitting her are two different things.
Southern and Coogan pitched brilliantly in last year's WAC opener that Hawaii won 1-0 on an officiating call at the plate. But Southern was almost untouchable the second day in tossing two shutouts (7-0, 6-0).
"Jamie just had our number. We had nothing that day. We had nothing to offer," Coolen said.
The Bulldogs' offense is led by leadoff hitter Christina Clark, the WAC's best hitter (.385). The sophomore also leads the team in runs (36), hits (55), home runs (13) and RBIs (35).
Southern can do some damage from the plate too. She is third on the team in hitting with a .324 batting average and leads the Bulldogs in doubles (10) and is second in home runs (4).
Note: Iolani alumna Mitzi Ing has started every game this year for the Bulldogs in the outfield. Ing has 28 hits, including three doubles and two triples.
