RAINBOW BASEBALL
'Bows get back to winning with rout at SJSU
Hawaii stays in contention for WAC title with 14-hit barrage, eliminating Spartans' chances
SAN JOSE, Calif. » The Hawaii offense went to the other end of the spectrum last night, with a 14-hit outburst that backed the three-hit pitching of Steven Wright and Mark Rodrigues.
The Rainbows defeated San Jose State 11-1 in the opener of a three-game Western Athletic Conference series at Municipal Stadium that concludes the regular season.
HAWAII - 11
SJSU - 1
NEXT UP
at SJSU today
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The win kept the 'Bows (38-13 overall, 15-6 WAC) one-half game behind first-place Fresno State, a 10-7 winner over Sacramento State yesterday. It also means the battle for first is down to UH and FSU, as the Spartans were eliminated from contention with the loss.
"Today, it was all about offense," Hawaii coach Mike Trapasso said. "We were getting good swings and had great approaches from top to bottom in the lineup."
The Rainbows, held to four hits in a 15-1 loss to San Francisco on Tuesday, were led by Matt Inouye's three hits and Derek DuPree, Justin Frash, Luis Avila and Jon Hee, all with two hits.
Trapasso called last night's game the most important one of the season in his pregame show. This is nothing new.
"We've been saying that to
our guys for the last three weeks. Now that this game is over, we'll come back tomorrow and that will be the most important game of the year," Trapasso said.
"This group of guys know what they are doing. We practiced for two days, then bounced back and we very business-like. One game (USF) does not bring about panic."
Wright gave up the three San Jose (33-22, 12-10) hits in seven innings. Rodrigues took over to start the eighth and retired all six batters he faced.
"Mark was the best he has been all year," Trapasso said. "He was hitting 88 to 90 (mph), attacking the zone and threw really well.
"For Steven, he was OK. We've definitely seen him with better stuff."
Hawaii scored first with a run in the second. Avila singled to left, took second on Inouye's single to center, moved to third on Esteban Lopez's fly ball to right and scored on Eli Christensen's groundout.
The Rainbows made this more comfortable for Wright in the fourth when Frash started the inning with a double to center. One out later, Inouye blooped a double to center, with Frash stopping at third. The runners held on Lopez's groundout.
Christensen then lined a 3-2 pitch to center that Sam Hall misjudged as the ball sailed over his head for a two-run triple. Jorge Franco singled Christensen home for a 4-0 UH lead.
UH pushed three more runs across the plate in the fifth. Robbie Wilder was hit by a pitch. He has now reached base in 45 of 48 games. DuPree beat out a sacrifice-bunt attempt for an infield single.
Frash singled Wilder home and continue to second on the throw to third that DuPree beat. Inouye then lined a 1-2 pitch down the left-field line to score both teammates.
The win was Wright's 10th, making him the first UH pitcher to reach that number since left-hander Paul Ah Yat in 1996.
Senior right-hander Justin Costi (7-1) will start for the Rainbows today. Senior left-hander Branden Dewing (7-4) will try to halt the Spartans' four-game losing streak.
Hawaii 11, San Jose State 1
| Hawaii |
AB |
R |
H |
BI |
San Jose St. |
AB |
R |
H |
BI |
Wilder lf |
5 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
Angel rf/lf |
4 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| DuPree cf |
5 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
Williammee lf |
2 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
| Frash 3b |
5 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
Costa ph/rf |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Avila 1b |
5 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
Hall cf |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Inouye rf |
5 |
1 |
3 |
2 |
Balatico ph/cf |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Lopez c |
5 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
Epidendio 1b |
3 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
| Christensen ss |
3 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
Chase dh |
4 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Young ph/ss |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Campos ss |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Hee 2b |
4 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
Shaffer ph/ss |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
Massman c |
3 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
Agatep 3b |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
Pierson 2b |
2 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
| Totals |
41 |
11 |
14 |
11 |
Totals |
29 |
1 |
3 |
1 |
| Hawaii |
|
|
|
101 |
331 |
201 |
-- |
11 |
14 |
1 |
| San Jose State |
|
000 |
010 |
000 |
-- |
1 |
3 |
1 |
E--Christensen, Pierson. LOB--Hawaii 8; SJSU 5. 2B--DuPree, Frash, Inouye, Hee. 3B--Christensen. SF--Hee, Pierson. SB--Inouye, Franco. CS--Epidendio.
| Hawaii |
IP |
H |
R |
ER |
BB |
SO |
| Wright (W, 10-2) |
7 |
3 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
7 |
| Rodrigues |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| San Jose State |
IP |
H |
R |
ER |
BB |
SO |
| Monneypenny (L, 4-5) |
4 |
8 |
7 |
7 |
0 |
2 |
| Hennessey |
3 |
5 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
| Porter |
2 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
Moneypenny faced 3 batters in the 5th.
HBP--by Wright(Williammee); by Moneypenny (Wilder), by Porter (Young).
Umpires--Kevin Daugherty (plate), Larry Randall (first), Rick Soarbery (third)
T--2:36. A--537.
WAC standings
|
Conference |
Overall |
|
W |
L |
Pct. |
GB |
W |
L |
| Hawaii |
15 |
6 |
.714 |
-- |
38 |
13 |
| Fresno State |
15 |
6 |
.714 |
0 |
36 |
16 |
San Jose State |
12 |
10 |
.545 |
3 1/2 |
33 |
22 |
| Louisiana Tech |
11 |
13 |
.458 |
5 1/2 |
32 |
23 |
| Nevada |
10 |
12 |
.455 |
5 1/2 |
23 |
26 |
| Sacramento State |
8 |
13 |
.381 |
7 |
20 |
32 |
| New Mexico State |
6 |
17 |
.261 |
10 |
20 |
34 |
Yesterday
Fresno State 10, Sacramento State 7
Nevada 16, New Mexico State 7
Hawaii 11, San Jose State 1
Today
Nevada at New Mexico State
Fresno State at Sacramento State
Hawaii at San Jose State, 10 a.m.
