Sports Notebook
Star-Bulletin staff
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Basepaths mean streets for UH
Hawaii has played .700 baseball this season despite more than the usual number of misadventures on the basepaths.
The Rainbows haven't been thrown out often from the outfield, but they've fallen victim to missed hit-and-runs and bunts, pickoffs, and indecision on pitches that bounce a short distance away from the catcher.
In Friday's game against Nevada, Brandon Haislet thought there were two outs and was doubled off second on a flyout to center to end the fourth inning. The Rainbows still won the Western Athletic Conference opener 5-3 on Evan Zimny's walkoff three-run homer in the ninth.
Kris Sanchez, Jon Hee and Justin Frash were all caught off base by Wolf Pack catcher Konrad Schmidt on Saturday. The Wolf Pack won the middle game of the series 5-4.
In Sunday's rubber game, Sanchez was picked off first by pitcher Jacob Kaup in the fifth. In the seventh, a potential big inning for UH fizzled after Haislet was thrown out at second when he got a late jump on a ball that got away from Schmidt. Frash, who was on second, made it to third. But he ended the inning there.
"I thought that might cost us the game for a second there," said UH coach Mike Trapasso, after the Rainbows rallied with a two-run eighth to win 5-4. "A good dirtball read by Frash and Haislet was looking at him and took off way, way late. We'd been better off just staying. You gotta be sure. We're not gonna run ourselves into outs anymore. It's ridiculous."
Hee provided a bright spot with a well-executed hit-and-run Sunday during UH's two-run second inning. Hee grounded a single through the vacated hole at second and Landon Hernandez, running on the pitch, got to third.
Trapasso said baserunning is a major point of emphasis in practice this week as the Rainbows (21-9, 2-1 WAC) prepare to host San Jose State (16-10, 1-2) this weekend.
Haislet, Hernandez hitting
Haislet continues to be an offensive and defensive force for UH. He went 5-for-10 with two walks, a double and three RBIs in the Nevada series. He also notched two assists from center field in Sunday's win.
Haislet is batting .356 for the season. He has stolen 10 bases in 11 tries.
Hernandez has a five-game streak going, in which he is 9-for-17. He's batting .298 overall.
Conference call
New Mexico State outfielder
Marcus Quade and Sacramento State righty
Alvaro Orozco are WAC Hitter and Pitcher of the Week.
Quade extended his hitting streak to 22 games and went 7-for-13 for the week.
Orozco shut out Stanford on seven hits, 7-0.