’Bows catch a break in San Jose

SAN JOSE, Calif. » Hawaii's worst defensive performance of the season came in a win that was decided by an error by the opposing team.

The Rainbows took advantage of a bad throw by San Jose State third baseman Kyle Bellows to score four runs in the 15th inning and escape with a 10-8 victory against the Spartans yesterday at Municipal Stadium.

Derek DuPree went 3-for-7 and scored the go-ahead run on Bellows' error with two outs. Landon Hernandez and Vinnie Catricala followed with RBI singles. Hernandez then scored on the Spartans' second error in the inning, helping put an end to a game that lasted 4 hours and 50 minutes.

"If you're going to play a game like that, it's great to win," Hawaii coach Mike Trapasso said.

The Rainbows pounded out 20 hits, but let San Jose State back into the game with a key miscue by reliever Jayson Kramer with two outs. An errant throw to first allowed Corey Valine to score from second to cap a five-run seventh inning and tie the game at six.

Hawaii entered the game in the top 20 in the country in fielding percentage, but committed a season-worst six errors.

"We won't play a worse defensive game ever," Trapasso said. "The reality was we made nine errors. (SJSU's) scorekeeper was being generous."

The Rainbows put their bullpen in a deep hole for the rest of the series. Kramer pitched 4 1/3 innings in relief of starter Jared Alexander, who allowed five runs in 6 2/3 innings and struck out four without walking a batter. Matt Daly pitched the final four innings to pick up the win, but it leaves the Rainbows without the services of their two best relievers for the rest of the weekend.

"That's another reason why it's so important to win after blowing your two best guys out of the bullpen," Trapasso said. "You come away with a loss and you're really feeling helpless."

John Shaffer's first hit in eight plate appearances scored two runs in the bottom of the 15th to cut the lead to 10-8. The Spartans put the tying run on base on an infield single by Craig Hertler, but Daly recorded back-to-back fly outs to end the game.

Kevin Macdonald hit a two-run single and Hernandez followed with a run-scoring hit of his own as the Rainbows took a 6-1 lead in the top of the seventh.

But the Spartans answered with five in the bottom of the inning to tie it the game at six. Kyle Bellows cut the lead to 6-3 with a two-out RBI single that chased Alexander. Kramer came on and surrendered a two-run single to Valine before his error allowed the Spartans to tie the game.

Macdonald finished with four hits and three RBIs and scored three runs. Brandon Haislet and Hernandez each had three hits.

The teams continue the four-game series with a doubleheader today beginning at 10 a.m. Josh Slaats will start the opener and senior Nick Rhodes is expected to take the mound in game 2.