Thursday, March 19, 1998
Rainbows take on
By Al Chase
top ’Dogs
Star-BulletinDiscovering the formula that produces victories is paramount for the University of Hawaii baseball team heading into its weekend series with Western Athletic Conference West Division leader Fresno State.
The Rainbows (18-10) have lost five of their last six games and seven of the last nine, all in conference play. Two last-inning setbacks in the first two games at Rice last weekend left the 'Bows drained and frustrated, according to UH head coach Les Murakami.
Tomorrow's opener against the Bulldogs (13-15) marks the one-third point of the Rainbows' WAC schedule. They find themselves holding up the rest of the division with a 2-7 record.
"Every WAC game is important," Murakami said. "But, all of a sudden our pitching went south. It's the walks. That's the most glaring thing when you look at the WAC stats."
In the 19 games before WAC competition, the UH pitching staff allowed 74 walks in 172 innings, not quite four per game. In nine WAC games, the walks allowed has ballooned to 69 in 732/3 innings, about 7-1/2 per game.
Those numbers haven't helped the team ERA in the WAC (7.94) compared to the overall ERA (5.06) or what it was entering conference play (3.82).
"I don't know why when we get into the WAC it's a problem. Guys who don't even throw hard are walking people," Murakami said.
Murakami has named left-hander Troy Yoshimasu (2-0, 4.86 earned run average) to start tomorrow's game. Right-hander Patrick McNair (4-0, 2.54) is scheduled to start Saturday and it probably will be left-hander Randon Ho (3-4, 5.40) in Sunday's finale.
Left-hander Dusty Bergman, suspended for the Rice series, has rejoined the team, but is not healthy. His left elbow is still bothering him along with a case of the stomach flu. Bergman had a doctor's visit scheduled yesterday.
The position players are the same although Murakami is waiting for a medical report today on second baseman Rory Pico's groin injury.
"If he is cleared to play and can practice today, then I'll start him. I'm not going to start him if he's not cleared until Friday and doesn't have the chance to practice," Murakami said.
The Rainbows' offense also has slipped a bit in the nine WAC games. They are hitting .247 compared to .294 overall.
Jamie Aloy and Neal Honma at .444 and 10 runs batted in and .368 and nine RBIs, respectively, have been the most consistent 'Bows in conference competition.
"The offense hasn't been that bad, but we could use a few more keys hits," Murakami said.
Fresno State, the coaches' preseason pick to win the West Division, experienced an uncharacteristic 0-8 start. The Bulldogs then won 11 of their next 15 games before finishing second in their Pepsi-Johnny Quik Classic with three consecutive defeats.
But the Bulldogs rebounded again and swept No. 15 Arizona State, 9-3, on Tuesday and 6-5 in 10 innings yesterday.
All-America right-hander Jeff Weaver (4-2, 2.44) starts tomorrow and left-hander Adam Pettyjohn (2-3, 4.32) goes Saturday. Sunday's starter will be either Tom Graham, Casey Rowe or Kirk Griffin.
The Bulldogs have a .275 batting average. Right fielder Dan Duke leads the way at .341. Also above .300 are center fielder Joe Gerber (.328), third baseman Craig da Luz (.311) and right fielder Mike Williams (.306).
The teams split six games a year ago, but FSU leads the all-time series, 30-18.
WAC
West Division
Conference Overall W L Pct. GB W L Pct. Fresno St. 4 2 .667 -- 13 15 .464 San Jose St. 2 3 .400 1-1/2 16 9 .640 San Diego St. 2 4 .333 2 11 11 .500 Hawaii 2 7 .222 3-1/2 18 10 .643
Conference Overall W L Pct. GB W L Pct. Gr. Canyon 4 2 .667 -- 16 9 .640 Brig. Young 3 3 .500 1 14 8 .636 Utah 0 6 .000 4 8 17 .320 Air Force 0 6 .000 4 4 21 .160
Conference Overall W L Pct. GB W L Pct. Rice 12 0 1.000 -- 20 7 .741 Texas Christian 4 1 .800 4-1/2 17 9 .654 Nev-Las Vegas 4 2 .667 5 21 8 .724 New Mexico 3 4 .429 6-1/2 13 14 .481WAC baseball
Rainbow Men Baseball Schedule
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