[ RAINBOW BASEBALL ]
’Bows can’t get RENO, Nev. >> Despite very windy conditions for the second consecutive day, Hawaii's Ricky Bauer and Nevada's James Holcomb engaged in a solid pitching duel for six-plus innings yesterday.
Bauer the victory
UH gives up 9 runs after going
into the seventh tied at 2From staff and wire reports
Then the wheels fell off the Rainbows' victory hopes as the Wolf Pack scored nine runs in their last two at-bats for an 11-2 Western Athletic Conference win before a senior-day crowd of 1,451 at Peccole Park.
In fact, Hawaii was the only team to take advantage of the strong winds blowing out to left with solo home runs in the fourth inning by Brent Cook and Kevin Gilbride, who muscled Holcomb pitches over the right-field wall.
Unfortunately, that ended the Rainbows' scoring, as they stranded the last seven runners to reach base.
"Again, we get out in front with two runs and that's it for the day," UH coach Mike Trapasso said. "So, if we were going to win, it would have to be 2-1, but our bullpen did not get the job done today."
The Rainbows (16-36, 5-21 WAC) had a golden opportunity to break the 2-2 tie in the top of the seventh inning when Holcomb walked the bases full with two outs. But he induced Scooter Martines to hit a 2-2 pitch on the ground to third baseman Mike Gillies, who got the forceout at the bag to end the threat.
Bauer then hit Chris Gimenez with a pitch to start the bottom of the seventh. Matt Maguire sacrificed Gimenez to second and he took third when Bauer got Jeff Tolotti to ground out. However, Taylor Pullins doubled down the left-field line to break the tie.
Will Quaglieri replaced Bauer, but the Reno resident failed to retire any of the four batters he faced as Nevada (24-29, 9-17) upped its lead to 5-2.
"Ricky begins to get tired at this point in a game and I hate to leave him in to take the loss, but he's the best we have right now," Trapasso said.
"What he did most of the time was change speeds and move his fastball in and out. Today he also had a pretty good slider working. It's a shame that he goes into the seventh inning every game with the game on the line.
"He has gotten stronger as a pitcher this year, but it (little run support) may wear on him mentally."
The Wolf Pack ended all suspense with a six-run eighth, an inning in which they got just one hit, but UH pitchers contributed three walks, one intentional, and hit two batters. Julian Russell also dropped a ball at second base on a potential double play.
Russell, who suffered a deep cut on the back of his index finger on his left hand in the seventh inning, told Trapasso he couldn't squeeze his glove on the play. Russell had stitches after the game and is questionable for today's series finale.
Right-hander Bryan Lee (2-2, 5.37 earned run average) will start for UH today.
Note: Trapasso said a doctor came into the UH dugout, spent about 30 seconds examining Gregg Omori's injured right arm, and said it looks like a biceps tendon tear. It's doubtful the senior first baseman will play in the 'Bows' final four games.
WAC standings
Conference Overall W L Pct. GB W L Pct. Rice 25 2 .926 -- 44 11 .800 San Jose St. 18 9 .667 6 42 15 .737 Fresno St. 16 11 .593 7 29 27 .518 Nevada 9 17 .346 15 23 24 .453 LaTech 7 20 .259 17 21 34 .382 Hawaii 5 21 .192 18 16 36 .308 Yesterday
Nevada 11, Hawaii 2
Rice 12, Fresno State 1
Nebraska 5, Louisiana Tech 1Today (All times HST)
Hawaii at Nevada, 11 a.m.
Rice at Fresno State
Louisiana Tech at Nebraska
UH Athletics
