’Bows lose fourth straight WAC game

The Hawaii Rainbows lost their fourth consecutive Western Athletic Conference game last night. With the defeat, the 'Bows now can finish no higher than fifth in the standings.

Fresno St.    Hawaii 7 5 Next Up vs. Fresno State today

The Fresno State Bulldogs learned before last night's game against Hawaii that they had clinched the WAC regular-season title when Nevada lost to San Jose State yesterday.

The Bulldogs, who are the top seed in next week's conference tournament, celebrated by pounding out 17 hits to beat UH 7-5 in 10 innings and win for the sixth time in their last seven games. The two teams play today at 1:05 p.m. with the WAC regular-season finale for both teams set for tomorrow at 6:35 p.m. at Les Murakami Stadium.

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The Fresno State Bulldogs blew a three-run lead in the ninth but responded with two runs in the top of the 10th inning to defeat Hawaii 7-5 last night in the opener of a three-game Western Athletic Conference baseball series at Les Murakami Stadium.

The Rainbows bullpen had held the Bulldogs (32-25, 17-5 WAC) in check for 6 2/3 innings with just one run allowed until the telltale 10th.

Senior Jeff Soskin had a chance for his first UH victory until Erik Wetzel and Steve Detwiler singled with two outs in the 10th. Usually reliable Tyler Davis came in from the bullpen and walked Brian Lapin on four pitches.

Cleanup hitter Steve Susdorf then singled in two runs with a drive to center. The damage was done and FSU's fourth pitcher, Jason Breckley, struck out the side in the bottom of the 10th.

After Hawaii (31-23, 9-13) tied the score in the bottom of the ninth, UH coach Mike Trapasso had no thoughts about starting the 10th with another reliever after Soskin's three innings of two-hit ball.

"He had been throwing well. He's been doing a great job lately, better than anyone else and you saw that when I did take him out." Trapasso said. "I feel more sorry for him than anyone else. I should have left him in."

The Rainbows had rallied with two outs in the bottom of the ninth to tie the score at 5-5.

A full-count walk to Eli Christensen and Jon Yee's second double of the game to left-center field accounted for UH's first run in the ninth.

Right-hander Brandon Burke, who had held the Rainbows scoreless for 5 2/3 innings, was replaced by left-hander Brandon Miller. Pinch hitter Kevin Macdonald greeted Miller with a single to center to score Hee, cutting the Bulldogs' lead to 5-4.

Matt Roquemore pinch-ran for Macdonald. Frash then bounced a 2-0 pitch down the right-field line into the corner that easily sent Roquemore home with the tying run and left Frash at third with his second triple of the year.

However, Jason Breckley relieved Miller and induced Brandon Haislet to hit a one-hopper right back to the mound for the easy out at first.

"I was proud of our guys coming back. I wasn't sure we had that in us, but they proved me wrong," Trapasso said.

The Bulldogs put a run on the scoreboard in the first inning and then scored again with another single run in the second.

Hawaii starter Ian Harrington retired the first two batters in the third, then ran into more trouble as Fresno State built a 4-0 lead.

"We lost the game in the first three innings," said Trapasso. "We played in a fog. We need to pick it up and we did after about seven innings."

The second sellout of the season brought 3,484 fans to the stadium.

Note: Hervy Kurisu, president of Hawaii Winter Baseball, who oversees the everyday operations of the league, was presented with the 2007 Chuck Leahey Award prior to the game.

The award, presented by Leahey's son Jim, is given to individuals who perpetuate the sport of baseball and show a passion for the game.