Advertisement - Click to support our sponsors.
Tuesday, March 7, 2000
’Bows find
out that changes
are good
Snider turns in Hawaii's first
By Al Chase
complete game of the season in
a 10-3 victory over Rice
Star-BulletinRich Snider realized it was an important game, but the University of Hawaii pitcher prepared for last night's series finale with Rice the same way he does every outing.
While Snider didn't change a thing, some of the other Rainbows had no problem doing the unexpected:
Second baseman Kenn Wakakuwa moved to catcher while Matt Purtell replaced him at second;
The result was a 10-3 victory over the Owls in the rubber match of the three-game Western Athletic Conference series at Rainbow Stadium.
Snider has the honor of pitching the first complete game for Hawaii (2-1 WAC, 10-11 overall) this season.
"I was battling the whole time. It was a relief to get all those runs," Snider said. "I went and threw about 10 or 15 pitches in the bullpen during the eighth because my arm was getting a little tired. Once I got to the mound I just wanted to get my first CG (complete game) of the year.
"Kenn did a great job of calling the game. He's caught my last three games and we've done pretty well."
Seventy-nine of Snider's 121 pitches were strikes. His fastball and change-up worked well, the curve and slider were more for show than anything else.
Snider and Rice starter Marc Gwyn had a fine pitching duel going for seven innings, with the Rainbows holding a 4-3 lead. But Gwyn issued a seemingly innocuous walk to Jamie Aloy to start the eighth inning. Martines, UH's leading hitter, laid down a successful sacrifice bunt.
"I just prayed I could get it down. It was a slider, but I got enough of the barrel on the ball," Martines said.
Danny Kimura, despite striking out twice earlier, was intentionally walked. Jackson ran for him.
Wakakuwa followed with a line single to left, scoring Aloy with Jackson stopping at second. On the second pitch to Scalabrini, Jackson stole third.
"That was a big play because it meant they had to hold the runner at first. That's why I called for the push bunt," Hawaii coach Les Murakami said. "Scalabrini's bunt was perfect."
It was so good, he beat it out for an infield single.
With two outs, Rice reliever David Humen hit Rory Pico with a 1-2 pitch, loading the bases.
Purtell grounded the first pitch he saw into left for a two-run single. Sean Takamori followed with a two-run double.
"Coach told me I would have to take certain pitches depending on the count, but I could swing at the first pitch," said Purtell, who walked-on from Santa Rosa Junior College this year.
"I wanted a good first pitch."
"I went with Purtell because Lane Nogawa has been so tentative lately," Murakami said.
Takamori, who started the series with a batting average too low to register, was 9-for-12 with four RBI and seven runs scored.
"I'm glad he woke up for the WAC," said Murakami.
"Mentally, I was getting down on myself," said Takamori who heard plenty of jokes about the Mendoza Line (batting below .200).
"I was loading up late, not starting my swing soon enough," he said. "It was a timing thing."
Rice travels to the Big Island for a three-game series against Hawaii-Hilo starting Thursday. Hawaii hosts Texas Christian in a three-game series beginning Friday.
Rainbows 10, Owls 4
RICE AB R H BI HAWAII AB R H B1 Smith 2b 4 0 0 0 Takamori rf 4 2 3 2 Arnold 3b 5 0 2 1 Aloy 1b 3 1 2 1 Roman lf 4 0 1 0 Martines lf 4 0 0 1 Gray cf 5 0 0 0 Baker lf 0 0 0 0 Ghutzman c 3 1 1 0 Kimura dh 3 0 0 0 Bryan dh 4 0 0 0 Jackson pr 0 1 0 0 Van Noy rf 2 2 1 0 Wakakuwa c 4 1 2 1 Fox ss 4 0 0 0 Scalabrini 3b 4 1 1 1 Michaelis 1b 4 0 2 2 Honma cf 4 0 0 0 Pico ss 3 1 0 0 Purtell 2b 3 3 2 2 Totals 35 3 7 3 Totals 32 10 10 8
Rice 020 001 000 - 3 7 2 Hawaii 002 020 06x - 4 7 1 E-Michaelis (2), Gwyn (1), Pico (3).
DP-Rice 1 (Arnold-Smith-Michaelis). LOB-Rice 10, UH 5.
2B-Van Noy (3), Takamori 2 (2). SB-Arnold (4), Van Noy (1), Jackson (8). S-Martines (1).
Rice
IP H R ER BB SO Gwyn (L, 1-4) 7-1/3 8 8 7 4 7 Humen 1/3 1 2 2 0 0 Barzilla 0 1 0 0 1 0 Sperring 1/3 0 0 0 0 1
Hawaii
IP H R ER BB SO Snider (W, 3-3) 9 7 3 2 4 9 Barzilla pitched to two batters in the eighth inning.
WP-Gwyn (1). HBP-Van Noy (by Snider), Pico (by Rumen).
Umpires-Eldridge (plate), Rodriguez (first), Montalbo (third). T-2:34. A-986.
WAC STANDINGS
Conference Overall W L Pct. W L Pct. Fresno State 5 1 .833 15 4 .789 Hawaii 2 1 .667 10 11 .476 Texas Christian 2 1 .667 7 13 .350 San Jose State 3 3 .500 11 5 .688 Rice 2 4 .333 8 12 .400 Hawaii-Hilo 1 5 .250 10 15 .400 Yesterday's results
Hawaii, 10, Rice 3
Fresno State 5, Temple 3Today's games
Texas Christian at Texas
Creighton at Fresno State
UH Athletics
Ka Leo O Hawaii
