RUSTON, La. >> Chris George provided an outstanding effort on the mound, the defense handled every chance without a miscue and the offense did its job. ’Bows get rare victory
WAC standingsFrom staff and wire reports
That was the formula the Hawaii Rainbows followed to end a 12-game Western Athletic Conference losing streak and salvage the final game yesterday of the three-game series against Louisiana Tech with a 4-1 victory.
George had not won a game since March 1, but he broke a personal five-game losing streak with his second complete game of the season. The senior right-hander struck out 12 Bulldogs to tie his career high set against Hawaii-Hilo a year ago. He allowed just four hits, walked two and hit a batter.
"Chris throws a curve and slider, but the key today was his slider. That was his out pitch," said Hawaii coach Mike Trapasso.
"His problem has been getting ahead of the batters where he can throw that two-strike slider. Today he was getting ahead with his change-up. He threw two dynamite change-ups in the first inning and I told Chad (Konishi, assistant coach who calls the pitches), 'Let's just ride with that thing, then throw the slider for the hammer because it breaks down at a guy's ankles with two strikes.' "
George did not allow a hit until the fourth inning and the Bulldogs (12-22-1, 5-10 WAC) never got their leadoff man on base with the exception of Wade Robinson's home run to start the seventh.
"Chris threw the change-up more than he has all year. He got a lot of swings-and-misses with that pitch. It's the best game he has thrown in two years for us," said Trapasso.
Hawaii took a 2-0 lead in the first inning when Rocky Russo hit a home run over the center-field fence with Brent Cook on base. Unlike several other games on this road trip when the Rainbows (19-19, 2-13 WAC) scored first, they held on to the lead yesterday.
It was Russo's second home run of the season and increased his RBI total to 20 for the year.
One-out walks to Matt Inouye and Tim Montgomery, and Josh Green's single to right loaded the bases in the fourth. Inouye then scored on Brian Bock's sacrifice fly to deep left-center field.
Montgomery started the sixth with a line single to left, took second on Green's sacrifice bunt, advanced to third on Bock's double to right-center field that was almost caught by Fairon Allen, and scored on Schafer Magana's sacrifice fly to center.
"We did hit enough, but we held them to under where we were. That was the key," said Trapasso. "Now it's time to climb out of the cellar and finish with some momentum, which we can do if we finish at .500."
The Rainbows arrive home today and host the Hawaii-Hilo Vulcans on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. at Murakami Stadium.
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WAC standings
WAC games Overall W L Pct. GB W L Rice 12 1 .923 -- 33 3 Nevada 9 2 .818 2.5 19 16 Fresno St. 7 3 .700 3.5 20 15 x-Louisiana Tech 5 10 .333 7.5 12 22 San Jose St. 4 10 .308 8 18 19 Hawaii 2 13 .133 11.5 19 19 x-Also has one nonconference tie
Yesterday
Hawaii 4, Louisiana Tech 1
Fresno State 7, Rice 3
Nevada 8, San Jose State 4
Today
Rice at Fresno State
San Jose State at Nevada
Hawaii 4, Louisiana Tech 1
Hawaii AB R H BI La. Tech AB R H BI Finegan ss 5 0 2 0 Wood 2b 4 0 0 0 Sansaver 1b 2 0 0 0 Brandon cf 4 0 0 0 Cook 1f 4 1 0 0 Robinson ss 4 1 2 1 Russo 3b 3 1 1 2 Walker dh 2 0 0 0 Inouye dh 3 1 1 0 Tabor ph 2 0 0 0 Montgomery cf 3 1 1 0 Allen rf 3 0 1 0 Green rf 3 0 2 0 Humphreys 1b 1 0 0 0 Bock c 2 0 2 1 Emfinger 1b 2 0 0 0 Magana 2b 3 0 0 1 Alford lf 3 0 1 0 Spangler 3b 3 0 0 0 Boyce c 1 0 0 0 Jackson phc 1 0 0 0 Totals 28 4 8 4 Totals 30 1 4 1
Hawaii 200 101 000 -- 4 8 0 La. Tech 000 000 100 -- 1 4 0 DP -- Hawaii 1, La. Tech 2. LOB -- Hawaii 6, La. Tech 5. 2B -- Bock, Allen. HR -- Russo, Robinson. SH -- Sansaver, Green, Bock. SF -- Bock, Magana. SB -- Cook.
Hawaii IP H R ER BB SO George (W, 5-5) 9 4 1 1 2 12 La. Tech IP H R ER BB SO Adams (L, 0-2) 3 1/3 5 3 0 2 1 Toal 1 1/3 0 0 0 2 1 Tucker 1 1/3 2 1 1 0 1 Schneider 2 1/3 3 0 0 0 0 Varner 2/3 0 0 0 0 0 WP -- George. HBP -- Allen (by George). BK -- Toal. Umpires -- HP: Bob Charmo. 1b: Jay McKeown. 3b: Brian Martin. T -- 2:10. A -- 1,164.
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