While the Rainbows were leaving Los Angeles yesterday via the San Diego Freeway, the Aztecs were arriving for a scheduled nonconference game with UCLA.
San Diego State head coach Jim Dietz can only hope he has more luck playing the Bruins than Hawaii counterpart Les Murakami. Hawaii's scheduled game on Tuesday was rained out in the bottom of the first inning.
Either way, the Rainbows arrived in San Diego a day ahead of the Aztecs in preparation for tomorrow's important three-game Western Athletic Conference series at Smith Field.
"It's not often the visitors get in a day ahead of the home team," Murakami said. "I wish we could have played that game with UCLA, but every time we come to California, it rains."
That's no exaggeration.
Last year, Hawaii played in the rain at Fresno State, Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo and San Diego State. A third game with the Aztecs was rained out, causing Murakami to become so upset with Dietz that he was asked to apologize for remarks made after the game was canceled.
This year, the Rainbows had one suspended game at Cal State-Sacramento because of rain, and two at Cal State-Northridge that were made up last weekend at Rainbow Stadium.
But that apparently won't be a problem this weekend. Hawaii arrived in San Diego yesterday to clear skies and ideal temperatures for a three-hour practice.
The Rainbows were scheduled to work out again today in preparation for tomorrow's 4 p.m. (HST) opener. Murakami said he will go with Mark Johnson in the first game, Paul Ah Yat in the second and probably Robby Robinson in Sunday's finale.
Johnson had a complete-game victory against the Aztecs the first time these two teams met at Rainbow Stadium. Unfortunately for the Rainbows, that was the only game they won.
The junior right-hander is 6-3 for the season with an ERA of 4.01. He has 115 strikeouts and only 34 walks. Ah Yat, who was named WAC player of the week, has a 9-4 record and 4.30 ERA.
Robinson is 4-6 with an ERA of 6.31. He is coming off a big win against West Division front-runner Northridge last Sunday.
The Aztecs are 13-8 in WAC play and in second place after beating the Bulldogs of Fresno State, 3-2, on Tuesday. Northridge is in first place with a 15-6 league mark. The Matadors play the Bulldogs this weekend at Fresno State.
"That's the biggest series of the weekend, no question," Murakami said. "But this one is also pretty important for San Diego State and for us. At 11-10, we're not that far out of second place." The 28-18 Rainbows would need a sweep to move from fourth to second.
It's likely the Aztecs' pitching rotation will be Mark Harriger (3-3, 3.34), Brian Scott (5-3, 2.44) and Jerrod Riggan (5-3, 3.34). They also have a solid bullpen. Justin Brunett, Desi Herrera and Jody Stevens are a combined 6-4 with six saves. Stevens is the stopper with a 4-2 record and two saves.
At the plate, the Aztecs are led by U.S. Olympic hopeful Travis Lee. He is batting a solid .372. Stewart Smothers, who went 7-for-12 the first time the two teams met, is batting .323.
Hawaii will have Chris Garnett (.357) at first, Jody Napuunoa (.333) at second, Jaime Ahu (.297) at shortstop, Robert Medeiros (.350) at third, Greg Millichap (.340) in left, Darren Blakely (.274) in center and Jason Ross (.293) in right.
If Neal Honma (.361) is healthy, he could be in right and Ross at designated hitter. If not, Honma, will be the DH. Kenn Wakakuwa (.327) will be behind the plate.