Base'Bows end regular season with a win
UH third baseman Justin Frash delivers the winning RBI
The Hawaii Rainbows finished the home season with a 1-0 victory over Fresno State, squaring the season series with the Bulldogs at three victories apiece.
UH coach Mike Trapasso knew nothing was going to change in the standings, win or lose last night. The Rainbows would finish fifth and play second-place and host Nevada on Thursday in the first round of the Western Athletic Conference tournament.
Trapasso rested starting shortstop Eli Christensen and catcher Landon Hernandez. Nathan Young and Kevin Fujii took their places.
Nicholas Rhodes made just his second start of the season and gave the 'Bows six strong innings. He combined with Tyler Davis on the six-hit shutout.
Justin Frash's final at-bat at Les Murakami Stadium was sweet.
The senior third baseman bounced a 3-2 pitch into short right field for a single that scored Jon Hee from second base with the only run in Hawaii's 1-0 win over Fresno State last night.
It was the Rainbows' first Western Athletic Conference series win in the last three attempts and the first against the Bulldogs since 2003.
"I was looking for anything to hit, anything in the zone," Frash said. "I think it was a fastball and I stayed on it."
The victory went to senior right-hander Tyler Davis, who pitched the last three innings in relief of Nick Rhodes before a senior night crowd of 1,603.
The Rainbows (32-23 overall, 11-13 WAC) leave today for the WAC tournament in Reno, Nev.
"To win a series like this against the regular-season champs is huge," said Hee, who started the winning rally with a two-out single to left. He took second when pinch hitter Landon Hernandez walked.
"Now we can go to the WAC and keep it going with three or four more wins."
Rhodes, a junior left-hander, started for UH and pitched six shutout innings, walking two and striking out three. He was replaced by Davis after walking pinch hitter Steve Detwiler to start the seventh inning.
Davis got David Hernandez to hit a chopper in front of the plate.
Catcher Kevin Fujii threw Hernandez out at first and Kris Sanchez fired to Frash at third to get Detwiler trying to catch the 'Bows napping for the rare 2-3-5 double play.
"The circle change and curve were working well tonight. I could see that in the bullpen," said Rhodes, who mixes those pitches with his fastball.
"I was effective against the right-hand batters by going inside. That is something I've been working on. I had a high pitch count, but still felt I had gas in the tank in the fifth and sixth. Tyler came in and closed the door."
Rhodes, who struck out Detwiler to save Sunday's 7-6 win, extricated himself from a huge jam in the fourth inning when the Bulldogs (32-27, 17-7) had runners at second and third with no outs.
Steve Susdorf opened with a bouncer up the middle that shortstop Nate Young knocked down behind second base, but had no play at first. Ozzie Lewis then hit a grounder to Young's right that went off his glove for a two-base error with Susdorf stopping at third.
Rhodes then retired Tommy Mendonca on a foul pop to Frash at third, struck out Alan Ahmady on a 2-2 pitch and got Ryan Overland to ground to Hee at second for the final out.
The Rainbows also had a golden scoring chance in the bottom of the inning when Frash led off with a triple into the right-field corner. After Sanchez popped out to short, Kevin Macdonald hit a bouncer toward the hole that Mendonca, FSU's third baseman, grabbed with an off-balance stab at the ball. He threw home in time to get Frash, who was running on contact.
The 'Bows misfired on another opportunity when Jon Hee opened the sixth with a line -drive double into the left-field corner.
The next batter, Jorge Franco, tried to sacrifice Hee to third, but missed on two pitches from FSU starter Holden Sprague. On the second miss, Hee was caught too far off second and was thrown out trying to make it to third.
"Incredible is the right word to describe Rhodes' performance. I think this is something that will carry over to next year," UH coach Mike Trapasso said. "He is a three-pitch pitcher who works his tail off and never complains. I'm happy for him.
"It also was huge for Tyler to come in and throw well."
Hawaii 1, Fresno State 0
Fresno St. |
AB |
R |
H |
BI |
Hawaii |
AB |
R |
H |
BI
|
Wetzel 2b |
3 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
Hee 2b |
4 |
1 |
2 |
0
|
Storey rf |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Franco lf |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0
|
Lapin cf |
4 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
L.Hrnndez ph-c |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0
|
Susdorf lf |
4 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
Frash 3b |
4 |
0 |
3 |
1
|
Lewis dh |
4 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
Sanchez 1b |
4 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Mendonca 3b |
4 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
Macdonald rf |
3 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
Ahmady 1b |
4 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
Haislet cf |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0
|
Overland c |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Catricala dh |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0
|
Detwiler ph |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Fujii c |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0
|
Grubb c |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Christensen ph |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
D.Hrnndez ss |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Roquemore lf |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0
|
|
|
|
|
|
Young ss |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0
|
Totals |
30 |
0 |
6 |
0 |
Totals |
29 |
1 |
6 |
1 |
Fresno St. |
|
000 |
000 |
000 |
-- |
0 |
6 |
0
|
Hawaii |
|
000 |
000 |
01x |
-- |
1 |
6 |
1 |
E--Young. DP--Hawaii 1. LOB--Fresno St. 8, Hawaii 6. 2B--Mendonca, Hee. 3B--Frash. SH--Storey. SB--Wetzel.
Fresno St. |
IP |
H |
R |
ER |
BB |
SO
|
Sprague |
5 2/3 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
3
|
Miller (L, 1-3) |
2 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
2
|
Breckley |
1/3 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
Hawaii |
IP |
H |
R |
ER |
BB |
SO
|
Rhodes |
6 |
5 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
4
|
Davis (W, 1-3) |
3 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
HBP--by Rhodes (Storey).
Umpires--Ted Kovach (plate); Kevin Dougherty (first); Daniel Payne (third).
T--2:37. A--1,603.
WAC standings
|
Conference |
Overall
|
|
W |
L |
Pct. |
GB |
W |
L
|
Fresno State |
17 |
7 |
.708 |
-- |
32 |
27
|
Nevada |
15 |
9 |
.625 |
2 |
32 |
24
|
Louisiana Tech |
14 |
10 |
.583 |
5 |
35 |
22
|
San Jose State |
11 |
13 |
.458 |
6 |
32 |
24
|
Hawaii |
11 |
13 |
.458 |
6 |
33 |
23
|
Sacramento State |
10 |
14 |
.417 |
7 |
17 |
38
|
New Mexico State |
6 |
18 |
.250 |
11 1/2 |
22 |
34 |
Yesterday
Hawaii 7, Fresno State 6
Nevada 11, San Jose State 6
Santa Clara 5, Sacramento State 3
Today
Hawaii 1, Fresno State 0
END OF REGULAR SEASON