RAINBOW BASEBALL
Rainbows hope to put it all together in Arizona
If Hawaii can pitch like it did early in the season and continue to hit like it has recently, the Rainbows could be in for a pleasant stretch drive.
"The reality is we've been swinging the bat well the past three weeks," UH coach Mike Trapasso said, in a phone interview from Phoenix. "Now we've just got to get everyone pitching like Ian."
Ian Harrington pitched a complete-game five-hitter as the Rainbows wrapped up a series victory over Louisiana Tech with a 7-2 win Sunday. Trapasso was in Arizona recruiting yesterday, a day ahead of the Rainbows, who arrive there for a game at No. 9 Arizona State tomorrow.
"It's funny because the previous month we pitched lights out and had some trouble at the plate," Trapasso said. "Last year we pitched strong at the end of the season."
Ten of the Rainbows' remaining 13 games are on the road, where Hawaii is 5-5.
After the game with the Sun Devils, the Rainbows have three Western Athletic Conference games at New Mexico State on Friday-Sunday.
They return to the islands next week, but not to Les Murakami Stadium. After a few days of focusing on school, the Rainbows head to the Big Island for three games at Hawaii-Hilo on May 3-5.
UH plays a final three-game road series at Nevada, May 12-14, and then a series at home against Fresno State to close the regular season, May 19-21.
Hawaii is 8-7 with nine WAC games remaining, fourth in the conference. New Mexico State is seventh at 4-11. The top six teams in the final regular-season standings advance to the WAC tournament in Reno, Nev., May 24-28.
ASU is the second opponent in a row for UH with a double-digit winning streak. Hawaii stopped LaTech's 10-game skein Friday. The Sun Devils (32-10) have won 10 straight and are ranked ninth. The Rainbows are 1-5 against ranked teams.
Trapasso was undecided who would pitch the midweek game.
"I'm not sure who will start, but it will be a staff effort," he said.