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Monday, May 8, 2000
Rainbows
hang on
for sweep
Baseball team downs
Star-Bulletin staff
Hawaii-Hilo, 3-2, in 10 to
win three-game seriesKAILUA-KONA - A botched squeeze play in the bottom of the ninth inning by the University of Hawaii-Hilo Vulcans gave the University of Hawaii Rainbows a reprieve yesterday.
The break forced the final game of Western Athletic Conference series at the Old Airport Park into the 10th inning.
That allowed the Rainbows to scratch out a run for a 3-2 victory and a sweep of the three-game series.
Aaron Pribble drew a base on balls to start the UH 10th. Shane Chan pinch ran and moved to second on Joe Bell's wild pitch.
After Lane Nogawa popped up trying to sacrifice, Patrick Scalabrini topped a ball about 65 feet up the third base line that he beat out for a single, Chan taking third.
Rah-Miel Mitchell followed with a sacrifice fly to deep right that scored Chan with the winning run.
Sean Yamashita, in his third inning of relief, retired the Vulcans in order in the bottom of the 10th.
But, it was his leadoff walk to Billy Rayl that opened the door for UHH, trailing 2-1, in the ninth.
Yamashita's wild pickoff attempt at first allowed pinch runner Ian Robbins to take second.
Brian Rooke followed with a run-scoring triple to the right-center field alley.
On the first pitch to Ryan Petersen, he squared to bunt, but missed the ball. UH catcher Kenn Wakakuwa threw to Scalabrini who tagged Rooke out trying to get back to third base.
The Rainbows (13-14 WAC, 26-27 overall) scored first in the fourth. Wakakuwa and Pribble singled and Nogawa walked, loading the bases. Scalabrini's soft line drive to center brought in Wakakuwa.
However, Vulcan starter Luke Holscher escaped further damage by getting Darin Baker on a pop up and Nate Jackson on a fly ball to center field.
Three consecutive, one-out singles off UH starter Rich Snider led to the Vulcans first run. Jacob Ryan's single to center scored Petersen from second base.
Hawaii regained the lead in the top of the eighth when UHH reliever Ben Siff hit Wakakuwa to start the inning.
Wakakuwa advanced to second on Pribble's sacrifice, stole third and scored on Nogawa's sacrifice fly to center.
The win was the first for the Rainbows in three extra-inning games this season. It kept their hopes alive for a winning season, but they need to sweep the Vulcans at Rainbow Stadium this coming weekend.
The Vulcans (6-21, 16-32) are still trying to present head coach Joey Estrella with his 500th career victory.
Hawaii also has a game and half lead over Texas Christian in the battle for fourth place.
The Horned Frogs have four conference games left against visiting Rice in two weeks.
The Owls still have a shot at the league title and host first-place San Jose State this weekend.
Rainbows 3, Vulcans 2
Hawaii ab r h bi Hawaii-Hilo ab r h bi Takamori rf 3 0 1 0 Petersen rf 5 0 1 0 Honma rf 0 0 0 0 Hobbs lf 5 1 1 0 Purtell 2b 3 0 0 0 Park dh 5 0 1 0 Aloy 1b 3 0 1 0 Ryan 2b 4 0 3 0 Wakakuwa c 3 2 1 0 Yap 3b 4 0 0 0 Pribble dh 3 0 1 0 Yee 1b 4 0 0 0 Chan pr 0 1 0 0 Rayl ss 2 0 0 0 Nogawa ss 3 0 1 1 Robbins pr 0 1 0 0 Scalabrini 3b 5 0 3 1 Kaneshiro ss 0 0 0 0 Baker 3 0 0 0 McCracken c 3 0 1 0 Mitchell ph-lf 0 0 0 1 Rooke cf 2 0 1 1 Jackson cf 5 0 1 0 Totals 31 3 9 3 Totals 34 2 8 1
Hawaii...................... 000 100 010 1 - 3 9 3 Hawaii-Hilo............... 000 001 001 0 - 2 8 0 E-Purtell (2), Jackson (2), Yamashita (1).
DP-UH 2 (Scalabrini-Purtell-Aloy, Garrick-Nogawa-Aloy), UH-Hilo 2 (Rayl-Yee, Rayl-Ryan-Yee). LOB-UH 12, UH-Hilo 8. 2B-Scalabrini (8), Petersen (9). 3B-Aloy (2), Rooke (1). SB-Wakakuwa (4), Scalabrini (5). CS-Purtell (2), Aloy (2), Ryan (3), Rooke (6). S-Purtell (3), Pribble (3), McCracken (2). SF-Nogawa (1), Mitchell (1).
ip h r er bb so Hawaii Snider 6 2/3 7 1 0 3 1 Garrick 1/3 0 0 0 1 0 Yamashita (W, 3-1) 3 1 1 1 1 1 Hawaii-Hilo Holscher 6 1/3 7 1 1 3 3 Siff 1 1/3 1 1 1 2 0 Bell (L, 1-4) 1 2/3 0 1 1 2 0 Shimabuku 2/3 1 0 0 0 1 Garrick pitched to two batters in the eighth inning.
WP-Bell (5). PB-Wakakuwa (3). HBP-Purtell (by Holscher), Wakakuwa (by Siff), Takamori (by Bell).
http://uhathletics.hawaii.edu
