RAINBOW BASEBALL
Haislet’s arm saves UH victory
FRESNO, Calif. » Sometimes defense makes the difference, even in a slugfest.
Such was the case for Hawaii last night, as Rainbows center fielder Brandon Haislet came up with a big play in the ninth inning and UH held on for a 9-8 win over Fresno State at Beiden Field.
The Bulldogs had fought back with five runs in the eighth, and speedy Loren Storey singled to lead off the ninth. Storey tried to stretch the hit into a double, but Haislet's throw was in time to nab him.
Tyler Davis then struck out Erik Wetzel and Todd Sandell to end it.
"It was a huge play for us," Rainbows coach Mike Trapasso said of Haislet's throw. "We were like, 'Oh boy, here we go' with the leadoff hit, and then we got a big break."
It's the kind of play and the kind of game that could be looked upon later as a turning point for the Rainbows (24-13). They had lost two in a row coming into the series against their Western Athletic Conference rivals.
"We've been struggling for three weeks with the ability to sustain our toughness throughout a game. But we did it today," said Trapasso, who was pleased that UH continued to score runs after taking a 5-0 lead in the second inning.
The Rainbows improved to 6-4 in the WAC, tying the Bulldogs (21-19) for second, a game behind Louisiana Tech. UH and FSU meet today in the second of a three-game series. Tomorrow's finale will conclude Hawaii's seven-game road trip.
Kris Sanchez had three RBIs for UH, with a two-run homer, his eighth, in the second, and a single to score Haislet in the eighth with what turned out to be the deciding run. Haislet had reached on one of the Rainbows' season-high six doubles.
Jon Hee had two doubles and went 3-for-5. Vinnie Catricala also went 3-for-5.
UH starter Mark Rodrigues (7-2) got the win, but allowed solo homers by Ozzie Lewis and Sandell.
"I'm disappointed Mark couldn't give us more than five innings, and (Matt) Daly goes out in the eighth and walks two guys," Trapasso said.
The first five Fresno State batters in the eighth reached base and scored against Daly and Davis.
UH failed to pad its lead in the ninth, and Fresno State came up with momentum on its side.
That changed with Haislet's throw.
"Definitely a good feeling for us," said Davis, after his third save. "Storey's a fast guy, but I didn't think he'd try for second. It was a bang-bang play.
"I definitely think this could be a turning point game for us. Anytime you beat your rival in a close game, especially on the road, it's a big win."
WAC Standings
|
Conference |
Overall
|
|
W |
L |
Pct. |
GB |
W |
L
|
Louisiana Tech |
7 |
3 |
.700 |
-- |
27 |
14
|
Fresno State |
6 |
4 |
.600 |
1 |
21 |
19
|
Hawaii |
6 |
4 |
.600 |
1 |
25 |
13
|
Nevada |
4 |
5 |
.444 |
2 1/2 |
20 |
18
|
San Jose State |
3 |
4 |
.429 |
2 1/2 |
22 |
13
|
Sacramento State |
5 |
8 |
.385 |
3 1/2 |
10 |
24
|
New Mexico State |
4 |
8 |
.333 |
4 |
14 |
21 |
Yesterday
Hawaii 9, Fresno State 8
Nevada 9, San Jose State 2
Louisiana Tech 5, Sacramento State 2
New Mexico St. at No. Colorado, ppd., weather
Today
Hawaii at Fresno State
New Mexico State at Northern Colorado
Louisiana Tech at Sacramento State
San Jose State at Nevada
Hawaii 9, Fresno State 8
Hawaii |
AB |
R |
H |
BI |
Fresno State |
AB |
R |
H |
BI
|
Hee 2b |
5 |
1 |
3 |
1 |
Wetzel 2b |
4 |
1 |
0 |
0
|
DuPree lf |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Sandell ss |
5 |
2 |
3 |
1
|
Franco lf |
3 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
Lapin cf |
2 |
1 |
0 |
0
|
Frash 3b |
5 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
Susdorf lf |
3 |
1 |
1 |
2
|
Haislet cf |
5 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
Lewis dh |
4 |
2 |
2 |
2
|
Sanchez 1b |
4 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
Ahmady 1b |
4 |
1 |
1 |
0
|
Catricala dh |
5 |
1 |
3 |
0 |
Mendonca 3b |
4 |
0 |
2 |
1
|
Zimny rf |
2 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
Grubb c |
2 |
0 |
0 |
1
|
Hernandez c |
5 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
Overland phc |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0
|
Christensen ss |
3 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
Storey rf |
4 |
0 |
1 |
0
|
Totals |
39 |
9 |
14 |
7 |
Totals |
33 |
8 |
10 |
7 |
Hawaii |
|
|
|
050 |
002 |
110 |
|
-- |
9 |
14 |
0
|
Fresno State |
|
|
010 |
110 |
050 |
|
-- |
8 |
10 |
3 |
E--Mendonca 3. DP--Hawaii 1, Fresno State 2. LOB--Hawaii 13, Fresno State 3. 2B--Hee 2; Franco; Frash; Haislet; Christensen; Lewis; Mendonca. HR--Sanchez; Sandell; Lewis. SF--Christensen; Grubb. SB--Lewis. CS--Zimny.
Hawaii |
IP |
H |
R |
ER |
BB |
SO
|
Rodrigues (W, 7-2) |
5 |
5 |
3 |
3 |
1 |
3
|
Daly |
2 |
2 |
4 |
4 |
2 |
3
|
Davis (S, 3) |
2 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
3
|
Fresno State |
IP |
H |
R |
ER |
BB |
SO
|
Allison (L, 6-3) |
1 |
2 |
4 |
3 |
2 |
0
|
Sprague |
2 1/3 |
3 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
4
|
Miller |
2 2/3 |
4 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
1
|
BoneSteele |
2 |
4 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
3
|
Breckley |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
BK--Sprague; BoneSteele. HBP--by Rodrigues (Lapin); by Allison (Haislet). Umpires--Mark Denzin (plate); Steve Corvi (first); Mark Bellar(third).
T--3:23. A--1,914.