Li`ili`i Named Big West Field Player of the Week - Hawaii News Now - KGMB and KHNL

Li`ili`i Named Big West Field Player of the Week

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IRVINE, Calif.-- (Hawaii Athletics) University of Hawai´i sophomore first baseman Leisha Li'ili'i earned her first Big West Softball Field Player of the Week honors announced on Monday. Li'ili'i (Kane'ohe, O'ahu/Castle HS) helped lead Hawai´i to a 3-0 record at the Pepsi Malihini Kipa Aloha Tournament. She posted six hits in eight at bats for a .750 average during the tournament. Li`ili`i launched a pair of home runs and had nine RBI as the Rainbow Wahine swept Portland State, 7-0 and 8-3, and routed East Carolina by an 8-0 score in six innings.

In the opening game against the Vikings, Li'ili'i went 2-for-2 with a three-run home run to cap UH's scoring.  Her two-RBI single opened up a 4-0 lead in the rematch with Portland State. After another single plated a pair of runs in the first inning of UH's win against East Carolina, Li'ili'i provided the knockout blow with a two-run shot that gave her team a 7-0 advantage.  It was the third home run of the inning following solo homers by Kelly Majam and Kayla Wartner. For the week, the first baseman slugged 1.500.

Overall, Li`ili`i is hitting .327 (17-for-52) with a team-high 16 RBI. She has five doubles, three home runs and is second on the team with 15 walks.

This is Li`ili`i's first Big West Conference weekly honor. Last year as a freshman, she was voted the Western Athletic Conference Player of the Week (Mar. 11) once.

Hawai`i continues its three-week homestand with a single game against Syracuse and East Carolina on Monday and Tuesday nights at 6:00 p.m. before starting their final non-conference tournament, the Chevron Spring Fling from Mar. 13-16 with No. 20 Baylor, No. 6 California, Syracuse, and Utah coming to Honolulu.