Do the math.

The University of Hawai'i is ranked 18th nationally, one of four NCAA teams with at least 40 victories and, at the moment, No. 10 in the Ratings Percentage Index.

"That's unreal," UH coach Bob Coolen said.

Despite Coolen's cautiousness, the reality is the Rainbow Wahine are on their way to their first NCAA Regional appearance since 2001.

And, as the Western Athletic Conference acknowledged yesterday, they are succeeding because of power hitting and efficient pitching. They swept the WAC's weekly awards — first baseman Tyleen Tausaga as top hitter, Justine Smethurst as best pitcher.

In a three-game road sweep of New Mexico State, Tausaga went 6 for 8 with two monstrous home runs. Facing gusts of up to 35 mph, Tausaga smacked an opposite-field homer to left. Later, she hit a fairy-tale home run that went over the trees and through the woods, covering an estimated 260 feet.

"That ball was cranked," Coolen marveled.

New Mexico State officials said it was the longest softball home run in their program's history.

"It went pretty far," said Tausaga, a senior. "She threw it inside and I took it back. That was the farthest one I ever hit."

Tausaga is benefitting from the new set of Easton Stealth bats and the Rainbows' synergy.

The two-piece bats are light (24 to 26 ounces) with a 13-inch-long face.

"The new bats are really helping out," Tausaga said. "But it's not just the bats. It's mostly the players. They're working hard to see the ball better, and they're just unloading. I think that's why the home runs are coming. Everybody is swinging hard, and they're swinging at the right pitches."

With at least seven games remaining, the Rainbows' 64 home runs are the most in WAC softball history.

Three Rainbows are in double digits — Kate Robinson has 15 home runs, Tausaga 12 and Tanisha Milca 11.

Smethurst is the ace of a staff that has a collective 1.65 earned-run average. (Opponents have a 5.38 ERA against UH.)

Last week, Smethurst won two games to improve to 15-6.

Against Santa Clara, she pitched a three-hit shutout, striking out a career-high 13. On the cool night, "it was hard to get a lot of movement," said Smethurst, who relied mostly on a rise-ball.

During one stretch, she struck out 11 of 12 batters. Only two balls reached the outfield.

In a 7-3 victory over New Mexico State, she allowed only one earned run.

"Our pitching staff is doing really well at the moment," said Smethurst, who won the weekly award for the third time this season.

At the start of the season, Coolen predicted the Rainbows would need 40 victories to qualify for a Regional berth. The Rainbows are 40-8 overall and 11-1 in the WAC.

The other 40-victory teams are ranked in the top three in the ESPN poll — Tennessee (43-2), Oklahoma (41-4) and Alabama (40-4).

UH plays a doubleheader scrimmage against Chaminade on April 17, then ends its home schedule against Fresno State April 20 to 21.

Reach Stephen Tsai at stsai@honoluluadvertiser.com.