RUSTON, La. >> The Hawaii Rainbows rode Gregg Omori's three-run home run to a 6-4 Western Athletic Conference victory over Louisiana Tech yesterday afternoon at J.C. Love Field. Omori’s homer turns
tide for RainbowsFrom staff and wire reports
The 'Bows received a complete-game effort from Chris George, who struggled in the fourth and fifth innings but finished strong, holding the Bulldogs to just one hit over the final four innings.
Hawaii cashed in on a Louisiana Tech fielding error at third base to score three unearned runs in the third inning.
Brian Bock was safe at first on the miscue and moved to second when Julian Russell was hit by a Lee Gwaltney pitch while attempting to lay down a sacrifice bunt. Arthur Guillen did just that one batter later, moving the runners to second and third.
Lane Nogawa hit a hard smash to the right of first baseman Nick Cauley, who dove but couldn't corral the ball as Bock scored. Omori drew a two-out walk to load the bases and Scooter Martines followed with a double down the right-field line that sent Russell and Nogawa across the plate.
The Bulldogs (15-21 overall, 2-11 WAC) loaded the bases in the fourth on singles by Kyle Humphreys and Cauley, a fielder's choice, and a walk to Dan Preaus on a full count. Brandon Haygood then powered George's first pitch over the left-field wall for a grand slam and a 4-3 Louisiana Tech lead.
The Bulldogs got three more singles in the fifth, but came up empty thanks to two excellent plays by UH outfielders.
With runners at first and second, left fielder Chad Boudon went back to the fence to make a leaping catch of Humphreys' extra-base bid. Cauley then singled to right field, but Tim Montgomery's throw to the plate cut down Kevin Marshall trying to score. George then fanned Preaus to end the inning.
"It was real similar to Chris' last start," UH coach Mike Trapasso said. "The reason he had problems is his arm angle starts to creep up a little bit and his ball is up in the zone.
"Putting up that zero in the fifth is the hardest zero a pitcher is going to earn. We made two great defensive plays. Overall, I thought we played pretty good defense today."
George needed 44 pitches to get through the fourth and fifth innings but just 41 to finish the game for a total of 117 for the afternoon.
"He found his rhythm and arm angle and got a lot of early count outs," said Trapasso. "I wasn't going to let him go 130 pitches again. I was thinking about taking him out after the sixth, seventh and eighth innings. He had thrown 105 pitches after eight, but told me he could finish. I told him I would hold him to 115 pitches."
Keeping the 'Bows (14-22, 3-7) within a run also played a part in George staying in the game. They finally got to Gwaltney in the seventh when Russell fouled off a 3-2 pitch, then singled to right. Guillen was safe at first on a sacrifice bunt attempt as Gwaltney's throw to second was in time to force Russell.
However, Gwaltney hit Nogawa with a pitch and both runners moved up a base on Brent Cook's slow grounder to second.
Omori liked Gwaltney's 1-1 pitch, his 116th of the game, and drove it over the left-field wall. It was the UH first baseman's first home run of the season and provided the 'Bows with the margin of victory.
Notes: Trapasso thought the 'Bows responded well moving from turf to grass. "There is a difference, but they do a great job with this field. It's well maintained, a nice place to play. ... Right-hander Sean Yamashita starts for UH today in a game that begins at 8 a.m. Hawaii time. ... The team went to the Cajun Cafe for dinner. Trapasso said the players were enjoying the local cuisine, such as crawfish, alligator and frog legs.
WAC standings
Conference Overall W L Pct. GB W L Pct. Rice 13 1 .929 -- 30 8 .789 San Jose St. 8 6 .571 5 28 12 .700 Fresno St. 8 6 .571 5 20 18 .526 Nevada 4 7 .364 712 16 18 .471 Hawaii 3 7 .300 9 14 22 .389 LaTech 2 11 .154 1012 15 21 .417 Yesterday
Hawaii 6, Louisiana Tech 4
San Jose State 6, Fresno State 4
Rice 12, Nevada 3Today
Hawaii at Louisiana Tech, 8 a.m. Hawaii time
Fresno State at San Jose State
Rice at Nevada
Hawaii 6, Louisiana Tech 4
LaTech AB R H BI Hawaii AB R H BI Robinson ss 4 0 1 0 Guillen cf 4 1 0 0 Marshall cf 4 0 0 0 Nogawa 2b 4 2 1 1 Hall 3b 4 0 1 0 Cook 3b 4 0 1 0 Humphreys dh 3 0 1 0 Omori 1b 2 1 1 3 Cauley 1b 4 1 2 1 Martines dh 5 0 2 2 Simmons rf 4 1 1 0 Boudon lf 3 0 0 0 Preaus lf 3 1 1 0 Montgomery rf 4 0 1 0 Haygood 2b 4 1 1 4 Bock c 4 1 0 0 Jackson c 3 0 1 0 Russell ss 2 1 1 0 Dugdale ph 1 0 0 0 Totals 32 6 7 6 Totals 34 4 9 5
Hawaii 003 000 300 -- 6 7 1 Louisiana Tech 000 400 000 -- 4 9 2 E--Russell (4), Hall (15), Haygood (5). DP--Louisiana Tech 2 (Wade-Cauley, Haygood-Wade-Cauley). LOB-- Louisiana Tech 7 Hawaii 8. Martines 2(8), Montgomery (4). HR--Omori (1), Haygood (3). SH--Guillen, Robinson (1). SB--Cook (15). CS--Nogawa (1), Robinson (3).
Louisiana Tech IP H R ER BB SO Gwaltney (L, 3-7) 623 5 6 3 3 5 Rath 113 1 0 0 1 0 Lacy 1 1 0 0 1 1 Hawaii IP H R ER BB SO George (W, 4-2) 9 9 4 4 3 7 WP--Gwaltney (5). PB--Jackson (3). HBP--Russell (Gwaltney), Omori (Gwaltney), Nogawa (Gwaltney).
Umpires--Home: Doug Williams, 2nd: Jay McKeown, 3rd: Chris Mcgouirk.
T--2:23. A--839.
UH Athletics
