RUSTON, La. >> Senior Casey Blalock pitched just a tad better than freshman Ricky Bauer as Louisiana Tech edged Hawaii 2-1 last night in the rubber game of the three-game Western Athletic Conference baseball series. Hawaii drops
another seriesFrom staff and wire reports
The Rainbows have yet to win a WAC series in four attempts and the prospects do not get better this week as the team arrived in Houston today to prepare for a three-game series against Rice.
The Owls are No. 3 in the Baseball America poll and No. 4 in Collegiate Baseball. They have rolled through the first half of their league schedule with a 14-1 record.
Both pitchers in yesterday's game allowed five hits. Bauer walked none, struck out four and got 11 outs via ground balls. Blalock walked two, fanned seven and had the 'Bows hit 12 grounders for outs.
The pitching was so dominant, the game lasted only one hour and 51 minutes.
The Bulldogs (17-21 overall, 4-11 WAC) got the runs they needed in the third inning, which started with Bart Dugdale being hit by a pitch. After failing to sacrifice twice, Brandon Haygood singled to left. Wade Robinson beat the relay to first on his sacrifice bunt attempt after Bauer threw Haygood out at second as Dugdale took third.
Dugdale held third and Robinson moved to second as UH catcher Brian Bock pounced on a ball in front of the plate and threw Mike Hall out at first.
Kyle Humphreys then hit a grounder in the hole between short and third that shortstop Julian Russell fielded.
"Julian had to go backhand and throw right away. I'm not sure he would have got the guy," UH coach Mike Trapasso said.
"The throw was on line, but Gregg (Omori, UH first baseman) tried to pick it instead of blocking it, conceding one run. Of course, if he makes the pick the inning is over."
The ball got by Omori and by the time right-fielder Tim Montgomery fielded it, Dugdale and Robinson had scored.
"It's just a shame that it happens, but like last night, that's not why we lost the game," Trapasso said. "We didn't get a key hit, didn't generate any offense."
Hawaii (14-24, 3-9) loaded the bases in the fifth after two were out, as Blalock hit Russell with a pitch, gave up a single to Bock and hit Arthur Guillen. But Lane Nogawa hit an easy fly to left on Blalock's first pitch to end the threat.
The Rainbows' run came in the eighth when Brent Cook drew a two-out walk and scored on Omori's double off the center-field fence.
Cortland Wilson reached on an infield single to start the ninth, but never left first as Tim Montgomery and Russell fanned, and pinch hitter Kevin Gilbride was retired on a weak grounder to second.
"We're in a situation where the opponent is immaterial" Trapasso said. "We're just trying to battle and get better, trying to create some momentum for the guys returning and to send out the seniors out with a good feeling."
The 'Bows are 5-6 in one-run games and 2-5 in two-run games this season.
WAC standings
Conference Overall W L Pct. GB W L Pct. Rice 14 1 .933 -- 31 8 .795 SanJose St. 9 6 .600 5 29 12 .707 Fresno St. 8 7 .533 6 20 19 .513 Nevada 4 8 .333 8 1/2 16 19 .457 Hawaii 3 9 .250 9 1/2 14 24 .368 LaTech 4 11 .267 10 17 21 .447 Yesterday
Louisiana Tech 2, Hawaii 1
Louisiana Tech 2, Hawaii 1
Hawaii AB R H BI LaTech AB R H BI Guillen cf 3 0 0 0 Robinson ss 4 1 0 0 Nogawa 2b 4 0 0 0 Hall 3b 4 0 0 0 Cook 3b 2 1 1 0 Humphreys 1b 4 0 1 1 Omori 1b 4 0 1 1 Cauley dh 3 0 1 0 Martines lf 4 0 0 0 Preau lf 3 0 0 0 Wilson dh 4 0 1 0 Marshall cf 3 0 1 0 Montgomery rf 4 0 1 0 Simmons rf 3 0 1 0 Russell ss 2 0 0 0 Dugdale c 2 1 0 0 Bock c 3 0 1 0 Haygood 2b 3 0 1 0 Gilbride ph 1 0 0 0 Totals 31 1 5 1 Totals 29 2 5 1
Hawaii (14-24, 3-9) 000 000 010 -- 1 5 2 LaTech (17-21, 4-11) 002 000 00x -- 2 5 2 E -- Cook (14), Russell (5), Hall (17), Marshall (4). LOB -- Hawaii 8; LaTech 4. 2b -- Omori (14), Marshall (6). CS -- Preaus (1). SH -- Russell.
Hawaii IP H R ER BB SO Bauer (L, 1-4) 8 5 2 1 0 4 Louisiana Tech IP H R ER BB SO Blalock (W, 6-5) 9 5 1 1 2 7 HBP--by Bauer (Dugdale); by Blalock (Russell); by Blalock (Guillen). Umpires -- Jay McKeown (plate), Doug Williams (first), Chris Macgouirk (third).
T -- 1:51. A -- 539.
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