Thursday, April 30, 1998
UH running out of time
Star-Bulletin staffSAN DIEGO -- Whether the University of Hawaii baseball team was able to forget two blowout defeats to Fresno State on the seven-hour bus ride to San Diego yesterday won't be known until tomorrow.
That's when the Rainbows open a three-game, Western Athletic Conference series against long-time rival San Diego State. The Aztecs (27-20 overall, 14-9 WAC) are hot, winning five of their last six games while averaging more than 10 runs an outing.
Jamie Aloy, a sophomore left-hander (4-0, 2.53 ERA), takes the mound in the opener for Hawaii (32-18, 10-14). He has been the only consistent starter for head coach Les Murakami the past few weeks.
What the 'Bows need to keep their diminishing WAC tournament hopes alive is for the rest of the pitching staff to suddenly develop the ability to get opponents out.
Saturday's starter will be junior right-hander Ken Mackenzie (1-1, 3.19). Murakami is undecided about Sunday's starting pitcher.
"I feel Mackenzie deserves to start because he has been pitching as well as anyone in relief," Murakami said. "Besides, San Diego's power is from the right side."
What baffles Murakami is freshman right-hander Patrick McNair's performance as a starter vs. how he looks in practice. Against Fresno State, it was four batters and out for McNair.
"In practice Tuesday, McNair threw quality pitches. If he threw 40 pitches, 37 were strikes," Murakami said. "When he's on, we're going to win. I just don't know when to take a chance and start him.
"The weird thing is he looks so good in the bullpen, then in a game, his mechanics . . . he just seems to loose it. For him, it's a matter of time."
But time is running out for the 'Bows. They are a game out of the sixth and final WAC tournament spot. Nevada-Las Vegas and Brigham Young are tied for sixth. San Jose State, UH's regular-season ending home opponent is next.
To secure a tournament spot, the baseball adage, "pitching is 90 percent of the game" must become a reality for the 'Bows in their final six games.
"The pitching staff is inexperienced. You cannot blame them. It's not that they aren't trying," Murakami said. "I kind of feel sorry for our position players because they aren't playing bad."
With catchers Lars Hansen and Kramer Aoki still nursing injuries, regular third baseman Matt Wheeler probably will have to catch this weekend.
Murakami is making a switch with his middle infielders. Rory Pico is moving from second base to shortstop and shortstop Michael Dartt goes to second. Pico has better hands, more range and a better arm, but Murakami wasn't able to make the switch earlier due to Pico's groin injury.
"We're going to play hard. We know our backs are to the wall, but for the most part, we've played well here," Murakami said.
The Aztecs won two of three games at Rainbow Stadium in March.
WAC baseball
Hawaii at San Diego State: Tomorrow, 4 p.m.
WAC
Conference Overall W L Pct. GB W L Pct. Fresno St. 15 8 .652 -- 26 23 .531 San Diego St. 14 9 .609 1 27 20 .574 San Jose St. 10 13 .435 5 28 19 .596 Hawaii 10 14 .417 5-1/2 32 18 .653
Conference Overall W L Pct. GB W L Pct. Gr. Canyon 12 12 .500 -- 24 23 .511 Brig. Young 11 13 .458 1 27 20 .574 Air Force 6 17 .261 5-1/2 13 33 .283 Utah 6 18 .250 6 16 30 .348
Conference Overall W L Pct. GB W L Pct. x-Rice 24 3 .889 -- 39 14 .736 Tex. Christ. 15 8 .652 7 30 18 .625 UNLV 11 13 .458 11-1/2 28 20 .583 New Mexico 9 15 .375 13-1/2 21 28 .429Clinched division title.
Nevada 6, Fresno State 3
New Mexico 8, Arizona St. 7
San Diego St. 6, U. San Diego 3
San Jose St. 14, CS Stanislaus 5
Wichita St. 11, Air Force 0 (1st)
Wichita St. 11, Air Force 7 (2nd)
Brigham Young at Utah
Hawaii at San Diego State, 4 p.m.
Brigham Young at Utah
Fresno State at San Jose State
Grand Canyon at Air Force
Texas Christian at Nevada-Las Vegas
http://uhathletics.hawaii.edu
