Bulldogs end ’Bows’ WAC title hopes

Trapasso gets ejected for arguing a close play; Hawaii finds out today if it gets an NCAA bid

FRESNO, Calif. » The Fresno State Bulldogs completed their undefeated run through the Western Athletic Conference baseball tournament with an 8-4 victory over Hawaii in yesterday's championship game at Pete Beiden Field.

Fresno St.   Hawaii 8 4 Next up: TBD

The WAC champs receive the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament that begins Friday with regional play at 16 sites.

Last night, the Rainbows drove to San Jose, where they will find out this morning if their 43-15 record and runner-up spot in the tournament are good enough to receive an at-large berth and to which regional they go.

The NCAA announced the regional sites yesterday. There are three on the West Coast: Pepperdine, Cal State Fullerton and Oregon State.

"We gave it our best shot. I wouldn't trade any of our guys for anyone on this field," said Hawaii coach Mike Trapasso.

"We're looking forward to playing next weekend, competing in another tournament and we will see what happens."

Steve Susdorf gave the Bulldogs (43-16, 4-0 tourney) a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. The designated hitter drove a one-strike pitch from UH starter Tyler Davis high and well beyond the right-field wall for his 14th homer of the season.

The 'Bows answered in the bottom of the inning.

FSU starter Brandon Burke hit Robbie Wilder with a 1-2 pitch, the 20th time the UH leadoff batter has been plunked this season. Derek DuPree singled to center and Wilder stopped at second.

Justin Frash lined a double into the right-field corner, scoring Wilder. DuPree also tried to score, but was out at the plate on a relay from right fielder Brian Lapin to first baseman Kent Sakamoto to catcher Frank LoNigro.

Frash continued to third on the throw home and scored on Matt Inouye's two-out, two-strike line single to left for a 2-1 UH lead.

The Bulldogs put runners in scoring position in the second, third and fourth innings, but Davis was able to keep FSU off the scoreboard. The junior right-hander wasn't so fortunate in the fifth.

Consecutive singles to start the inning by Ozzie Lewis, Susdorf and Sakamoto tied the score and prompted Trapasso to bring in Darrell Fisherbaugh from the bullpen.

Fisherbaugh hit Nick Moresi with his second pitch, loading the bases. Lapin followed with a two-run single to center, scoring Susdorf and Sakamoto to put FSU ahead 4-2.

Fisherbaugh fared no better in the sixth, when the Bulldogs scored four runs on five hits for an 8-2 lead.

Loren Storey beat out a bunt single to start the inning. He took third on Lewis' single to center and Lewis continued to second on the throw to third.

With the UH infield playing in, the 'Bows caught Storey in a rundown between third and home for the first out on Susdorf's bouncer to Hee at second. The next batter, Sakamoto, also bounced to Hee, but Lewis beat the throw to the plate on a close play.

Trapasso was livid at the safe call by plate umpire Darrel Mason, the same ump the UH coach had issue with in Thursday's loss to Nevada. Trapasso ranted, stomped around and kicked dirt across the plate, and was ejected by Mason.

Moresi's single to center scored Susdorf. After Lapin caught UH by surprise with a bunt single toward third to reload the bases, LoNigro rifled a two-run single to left.

Dean Turner took over for Fisherbaugh and ended the inning on a pop-up and groundout.

"We probably got all we could ask for out of Tyler. This was the third time in four days he was throwing," Trapasso said. "Fish came in and didn't have it, didn't get the job done."

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