HOUSTON >> The Hawaii Rainbows received the kind of pitching effort coach Mike Trapasso wanted, but could not generate a run-producing offense yesterday. Rainbows can’t capitalize
WAC standings
on Bauer’s outingFrom staff and wire reports
The No. 1-ranked Rice Owls turned single runs in the first and fifth innings into a 2-0 Western Athletic Conference victory, their 28th consecutive win overall and 10th straight over Hawaii.
Sophomore right-hander Ricky Bauer delivered his second consecutive strong outing, going 6 2/3 innings, and freshman right-hander Guy McDowell finished with a hitless effort, but it was not enough.
"Ricky was good, able to throw his slider for strikes and he stayed within himself. He didn't have his velocity today, but he just kind of kept them at bay," said Trapasso. "He located his fastball when he needed it."
Rice starter Jeff Niemann and reliever Wade Townsend held the Rainbows (17-16, 1-10) to four hits and combined to strike out 13.
"We really had some good at-bats, went deep into the count, fouled off pitches, but their guy (Niemann) was really good today," said Trapasso.
The Owls (31-1, 11-0) pushed their first run across the plate after Bauer had retired the first two batters.
Vincent Sinisi hit a 1-2 pitch into center field for a single and moved to second when cleanup hitter Austin Davis caught the 'Bows by surprise with a bunt single on Bauer's first pitch. Craig Stansberry also liked Bauer's first pitch and grounded it into center field for an RBI single that scored Sinisi.
UH's Andrew Sansaver singled with one out in the first, and Isaac Omura reached first on an error by Stansberry at third with one out in the second. Niemann ended both mini-threats quickly, fanning Brent Cook and getting Josh Green on a grounder in the first and inducing Tyler Wightman to hit into a double play in the second.
Sansaver singled again to begin the fourth, but was erased on a double play. Cook showed bunt on the first pitch, a strike, but the slash sign was on for the next pitch.
"Brent hit the ball right on the nose, but it was right at the second baseman," said Trapasso.
Enrique Cruz turned Cook's grounder into an inning-ending double play, then started things for the Owls in the bottom of the next inning.
Rice got its second run when Cruz singled, moved to third on Justin Ruchti's ground-rule double to left and scored on Paul Janish's sacrifice fly to center in the fifth.
Rice threatened with two outs in the seventh with runners at second and third and Sinisi at the plate. That's when Trapasso brought McDowell in from the bullpen.
"Guy was outstanding," said Trapasso. "It's a tough situation to come in and face Sinisi, probably the best hitter in the nation, and make a big-time pitch to get him to ground out."
The Rainbow bats were silent until the eighth, when Wightman singled to center to open the inning. Townsend replaced Niemann at this juncture. He struck out Kevin Gilbride, gave up a bunt single to Art Guillen, struck out Brian Finegan, wild-pitched the runners up a base, then struck out Sansaver.
The ninth inning found the 'Bows with another opportunity, but a familiar ending.
Cook led off by reaching first when Davis dropped his fly ball in right. Townsend struck out Green, but walked Matt Inouye on a full count. Townsend went to a full count with Omura before fanning him swinging, then closed out the game by getting Wightman on a swinging third strike.
In the 18 innings played here so far, Hawaii batters have struck out 27 times.
The Rainbows will try to salvage one game from the series today with Chris George starting on the mound.
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WAC standings
WAC games Overall W L Pct. GB W L Rice 11 0 1.000 -- 31 1 Fresno St. 6 2 .750 3.5 19 14 Nevada 6 2 .750 3.5 16 15 x-Louisiana Tech 3 8 .273 8 10 20 San Jose St. 3 8 .273 8 16 17 Hawaii 1 10 .091 10 17 16 x-also has one nonconference tie
Yesterday
Rice 2, Hawaii 0
Nevada 10, Louisiana Tech 3 (completion of suspended game)
Nevada 8, Louisiana Tech 5
San Jose State 4, Fresno State 3
Today
Hawaii at Rice, 8 a.m.
Fresno State at San Jose State
Louisiana Tech at Nevada
Rice 2, Hawaii 0
Hawaii AB R H BI Rice AB R H BI Finegan ss 4 0 0 0 Jorgensen cf 4 0 0 0 Sansaver 1b 4 0 2 0 Janish ss 2 0 0 1 Cook 3b 4 0 0 0 Sinisi 1b 3 1 1 0 Green rf 4 0 0 0 Davis rf 4 0 1 0 Inouye c 2 0 0 0 Stansberry 3b 4 0 1 1 Omura 2b 4 0 0 0 Ueckert dh 3 0 2 0 Wightman 1f 3 0 1 0 Bubela pr 0 0 0 0 Gilbride dh 2 0 0 0 Blackinton ph 1 0 0 0 Guillen cf 3 0 1 0 Pendleton 1f 3 0 0 0 Cruz 2b 3 1 3 0 Ruchti c 3 0 1 0 Totals 30 0 4 0 Totals 30 2 9 2
Hawaii 000 000 000 -- 0 4 0 Rice 100 010 00X -- 2 9 2 E -- Davis, Stansberry. DP -- Hawaii 1, Rice 1. LOB -- Hawaii 7, Rice 7. 2B -- Ruchti. SF -- Janish. CS -- Inouye, Bubela.
Hawaii IP H R ER BB SO Bauer (L, 2-2) 6 2/3 9 2 2 1 4 McDowell 1 1/3 0 0 0 0 2 Rice IP H R ER BB SO Niemann (W, 8-0) 7 3 0 0 2 7 Townsend (S, 3) 2 1 0 0 1 6 WP -- McDowell, Townsend. HBP -- Wightman by Niemann, Janish by Bauer. BK -- Bauer. Umpires -- HP: Larry King, 1b: Ray Belfiore, 3b: Ron Ridd. T -- 2:33. A -- 2,835.
