[ RAINBOW BASEBALL ]
Hawaii falls to Fresno in
next-to-last home gameThe Bulldogs clinch a WAC series
win; the Rainbows close out their
home season this afternoon
The Fresno State Bulldogs continued to dominate Hawaii with their fourth win in five games against the Rainbows this season.
The Bulldogs took advantage of ineffective UH starting pitcher Stephen Bryant to take an early lead en route to an 8-4 triumph in the second meeting of the three-game Western Athletic Conference series at Murakami Stadium last night.
For the second consecutive night, the Rainbows' bats were anemic, producing just five hits until the ninth, when they bunched three two-out hits and an error for two runs.
Meanwhile, Bulldog batters sprayed 13 hits, including six of the extra-base variety, to all parts of the outfield.
The one bright spot for UH (29-19, 12-11 WAC) was 5 2/3 innings of five-hit, two-run relief pitching by freshman right-hander Steven Wright. He should have gotten out of the ninth without giving up a run, but his infield failed to turn a double play.
The win moves the Bulldogs into a tie for third place with Hawaii.
"We are struggling offensively, not getting enough hits and not playing well. When we've done this in the past, our pitching has carried us, but we're not pitching well either," said UH coach Mike Trapasso.
"That was the worst Stephen (Bryant) has been since he joined us, and it is a shame because he has been so solid for us. I know he feels bad.
"You have to give credit to the Fresno State hitters. When the ball was up, they hammered it. This is the second night FSU has come out and played much better. They spanked us."
FSU (24-28, 12-11) scored in the first when Ryan Haag led off with a double to center, moved to third on Chris Patrick's sacrifice bunt and scored on Richie Robnett's sacrifice fly to right.
The Bulldogs put UH in a deeper hole in the second.
Brandon Marcelli and Christian Vitters started the inning with sharp singles to left and right, respectively. Nick Moresi then drove a one-out, one-ball pitch from Bryant over the center-field wall for his seventh home run of the season and a 4-0 Fresno State lead.
Hawaii managed a run in the bottom of the inning. Rocky Russo walked, moved to third on Andrew Sansaver's single and scored on a double play.
Matt Inouye reached first safely when Moresi dropped his shallow fly ball in right with two outs in the third. Inouye stole second and scored to make the score 4-2 when FSU second baseman Haag threw wide of first on Jaziel Mendoza's grounder.
The Bulldogs restored their four-run lead (6-2) in the top of the fourth. Moresi led off with a double to right-center and scored on Haag's bloop double down the right-field line. Patrick's ground single to right scored Haag.
Bryant walked Robnett intentionally, then was replaced by Wright, who retired the next two Bulldogs to prevent further damage.
Bryant gave up eight hits, walked three and allowed six earned run in 3 1/3 innings.
FSU added another run in the sixth. DeAndre Miller tripled when center fielder Josh Green missed a diving catch attempt on a sinking liner and the ball rolled to the wall. Haag's sacrifice fly scored Miller.
The series ends today with a 1 p.m. game that is the final home appearance for the 'Bows. Clary Carlsen will be the starting pitcher for UH.
WAC standings
Conference All games W L Pct. GB W L Pct. Rice 18 3 .857 -- 36 9 .800 Nevada 12 10 .545 6 1/2 28 23 .549 Fresno State 12 11 .522 7 24 28 .462 Hawaii 12 11 .522 7 29 19 .604 San Jose State 8 16 .333 11 20 28 .418 Louisiana Tech 6 17 .261 12 1/2 15 35 .300 San Jose State has one non-conference tie.
Yesterday
San Jose St. at Louisiana Tech, ppd. rain
Rice 14,Nevada 1
Fresno St. 8, Hawaii 4Today
San Jose St. at Louisiana Tech (2)
Nevada at Rice
Fresno St. at Hawaii, 1:05 p.m.Tomorrow
San Jose St. at Louisiana Tech
Nevada at Rice
Fresno St. 8, Hawaii 4
Fresno St. AB R H BI Hawaii AB R H BI Haag 2b 4 2 3 2 Finegan ss 5 0 1 1 Patrick ss 4 0 2 1 Kish rf 4 0 0 0 Robnett cf 3 0 1 1 Inouye c 3 1 1 0 Gomez dh 4 0 0 0 Mendoza lf 4 0 0 0 Marcelli c 3 1 1 0 Russo dh 3 1 0 0 Pierce c 0 1 0 0 Sansaver 1b 4 0 2 0 Vitters 3b 5 1 2 0 Magana 3b 4 0 1 0 Esparza 1b 5 0 1 1 Omura 2b 4 1 2 1 Moresi rf 3 2 2 3 Green cf 3 1 1 0 Miller lf 3 1 1 0 Totals 34 8 13 8 Totals 34 4 8 2 Fresno St. 130 201 001 -- 8 13 3 Hawaii 011 000 002 -- 4 8 0 E--Haag, Robnett, Moresi. DP--FSU 3, Hawaii 1. LOB--FSU 10, Hawaii 7. 2B--Haag 2, Robnett, Moresi. 3B--Miller. HR--Moresi, Omura. SH--Patrick, Gomez, Miller. SF--Haag, Robnett. SB--Vitters, Inouye.
Fresno St. IP H R ER BB SO Miller (W, 5-3) 6 5 2 1 2 1 Cooper (S, 2) 3 3 2 1 1 4 Hawaii IP H R ER BB SO Bryant (L, 7-4) 3 1/3 8 6 6 3 2 Wright 5 2/3 5 2 2 2 5 HBP--by Miller (Kish), by Wright (Pierce). Umpires--Jim LeBeau (home), Jim Garman (first), Darrel Mason (third).
T--3:14. A--1,927.