RONEN ZILBERMAN / RZILBERMAN@STARBULLETIN.COM
Hawaii's Clay Carlsen earned a victory in relief last March when UH beat Hawaii Pacific.
UH faces Hawaii Pacific
The Hawaii baseball team wants to keep the momentum generated over the weekend going when the Rainbows host Hawaii Pacific in a midweek game tonight at Murakami Stadium.
The 'Bows (4-5), hitting .213 entering the Florida International series, were 31-for-95 (.326) against Golden Panther pitching to raise their team batting average to a modest .249. The UH hitters also showed more power at the plate, cracking 10 doubles vs. 12 in the first six games and benefited from two home runs by designated hitter Nate Thurber.
Hawaii Pacific at Hawaii
When: Today, 6:35 p.m.
Where: Murakami Stadium
TV: Live, KFVE, Channel 5
Radio: Joined in progress following UH men's volleyball match, KKEA, 1420-AM
Tickets: $6 Orange, Blue levels. $5 Red level. $4 Seniors, children age 4-18, UH students in the Red level.
Parking: $3
With the exception of replacing second baseman Isaac Omura, who sprained his right ankle in the opener, with Schafer Magana, UH coach Mike Trapasso used the same lineup all three games against FIU.
"It's hard to argue with that lineup," Trapasso said. "I wanted to get Greg Kish into the lineup and that became a necessity when Jaziel (Mendoza) pulled a hamstring. If we make any changes, it will be Isaac and Schafer sharing second. I also want to get Jaziel back in the mix when he is ready."
Kish, a junior transfer from Oklahoma, replaced Mendoza in left field and was 3-for-10 with a pair of runs batted in and he drew three walks.
Robbie Wilder, in the leadoff spot for the second consecutive series, reached base six times on four hits and two walks. He made his own call on the bunt single that keyed the ninth-inning, game-winning rally Saturday night.
Trapasso will start freshman right-hander Steven Wright on the mound tonight. He struggled in his first start against Cal State Northridge on Feb. 8 after pitching two creditable innings of relief against Texas.
Notes: Junior pitcher Ricky Baur was named the WAC Pitcher of the Week yesterday. The Kaneohe resident via Mid-Pacific pitched eight innings in a win over Florida International over the weekend. He gave up one earned run on six hits. He struck out four and walked none. ... The Rainbows have not run much yet this season but were successful on both stolen base attempts against FIU. They are 6-for-7 overall. ... UH turned five double plays last weekend to one for FIU. The Rainbows and Sea Warriors have played 25 games, with UH winning 23. ... In the last meeting, UH won 8-4, March 11, 2003, with Clary Carlsen getting the win in relief. ... The two HPU victories were both pitched by Sea Warrior head coach Allan Sato.
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Probable starting pitchers
Notes: The Sea Warriors (5-4) are led by junior catcher/outfielder Greg Benoit (14-for-28, .500), senior right fielder Tyler Ward (14-for-33, .424) and sophomore second baseman Brandon Sato (12-for-29, .414). "With the kind of experience our young players gained last year, they have come in with a lot more confidence this year," HPU coach Allan Sato said. "We have a good mix of junior college kids and like they way we are playing."
HAWAII (4-5) W-L ERA K RHP Stephen Wright (Fr.) 0-1 11.57 4 HAWAII PACIFIC (5-4) W-L ERA K RHP David Zamarano (Sr.) 0-1 8.58 8
