Saved by the rain

UH has no answer for Arizona before its game is suspended

The college baseball game between Hawaii and Arizona last night at Les Murakami Stadium was suspended in the bottom of the ninth inning.

UA's Preston Guilmet allowed five hits in eight innings and Arizona led 2-0 when play was suspended due to heavy rain.

The game was to be completed today at 5:30 p.m., prior to the regularly scheduled 6:35 p.m. game.

A season-high 12 Hawaii batters struck out.

Guilmet and UH starter Ian Harrington matched zeroes for the first four innings. Arizona's Robert Abel scored in the fifth inning when Colt Sedbrook got caught stealing, but managed to avoid being tagged in a rundown between first and second for the third out before Abel crossed the plate.

UA added a run in the eighth when Sedbrook doubled and Bill Rhinehart singled him home.

A rain delay in the top of the ninth interrupted play for 30 minutes. After the teams returned to the field. UH reliever Matt Daly got the last two outs in the top of the inning. Daniel Schlereth relieved Guilmet in the bottom half, and went to a full count on Kris Sanchez before home plate umpire Danny Mascorro suspended it.

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Rain did what it looked like the Rainbows weren't going to be able to do -- deny Arizona a victory last night.

The Wildcats, with right-handed pitcher Preston Guilmet dominating through most of the game, led 2-0 in the top of the ninth inning at Les Murakami Stadium when the skies opened up.

"He's pretty good," Hawaii coach Mike Trapasso said of Guilmet, after UH struck out a season-high 12 times. "He's as good as we've seen. A real good downward angle."

A crowd of 1,630 attended.

After a 30-minute rain delay, it appeared UA would be able to finish up a win with closer Daniel Schlereth coming in to finish for Guilmet.

But UH's first batter in the ninth, Kris Sanchez, worked a full count as the rain started again and got heavier.

Plate umpire Danny Mascorro determined the field was unplayable, and suspended play.

"We couldn't have kept playing, that's for sure," Trapasso said. "We'll just have to pick it up where we left off."

Ian Harrington and Guilmet had matched zeroes until Arizona broke through for a run in the fifth through opportunistic baserunning.

Robert Abel singled with one out, advanced on a wild pitch and stole third. After another out, Harrington hit Colt Sedbrook.

Abel then scored when Sedbrook got caught stealing, but managed to stay in a rundown between first and second long enough for Abel to come in from third.

"(Catcher Landon Hernandez) did exactly what he was supposed to do. He checked the runner at third and threw to second," Trapasso said. "(Shortstop Eli Christensen) had the choice to throw home, but he didn't think he had the handle."

Arizona made it 2-0 in the eighth. Bill Rhinehart singled sharply up the middle, scoring Sedbrook, who had doubled. That did it for Harrington, who was relieved by Matt Daly.

Harrington went 7 1/3 innings, allowing eight hits. He struck out seven and walked two.

UH had its chances. The Rainbows loaded the bases on walks after two outs in the second inning, and also left runners on second and third in the third inning.

The last time UH had a suspended game situation was March 15 and 16, 2002, at Hilo. The score was tied 9-9 in the 12th inning with Hilo's Darren Chu batting with a 3-2 count with two outs and the bases empty when action was suspended for the day.

Sean Yamashita threw a ball to walk Chu to start play the next day, and Johnny Dudoit then doubled him in to give the Vulcans the win.