Rainbows take doubleheader slugfest

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LAS CRUCES, N.M. » Brandon Haislet went 9-for-10 with 10 RBIs and Jon Hee scored eight of the 32 total runs managed by Hawaii in a doubleheader sweep of New Mexico State yesterday at Presley Askew Field.

The Rainbows pounded out 21 hits in a 17-10 win in the opener and got a tie-breaking home run from Landon Hernandez to edge the Aggies in Game 2 15-14.

The sweep gave the Rainbows a split of the four-game series. Hawaii only lost one WAC series all season and finished conference play at 18-14.

The Rainbows can end the regular season at .500 or better by capturing the final series of the season beginning Thursday against Utah Valley State at Les Murakami Stadium.

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LAS CRUCES, N.M. » The Hawaii baseball team ended its Western Athletic Conference regular season by beating New Mexico State at its own game.

"I said before the last couple of weeks I'm more proud of these guys than any group I have been around. They proved that again today. They found a way and never quit." Mike Trapasso / Hawaii coach

Brandon Haislet had a career day, going 9-for-10 with 10 RBIs, as Hawaii outslugged New Mexico State to sweep yesterday's doubleheader 17-10 and 15-14 at Presley Askew Field.

Haislet had a career-high seven RBIs in the first game as the Rainbows scored a season-high 17 runs on 21 hits to snap a two-game losing streak.

Hawaii fell behind 12-6 in the second game, but scored six runs in the sixth inning to tie the game at 12. The score was knotted at 14 when Landon Hernandez led off the eighth with a solo home run to score what proved to be the game-winning run.

"I couldn't be any happier," Hawaii coach Mike Trapasso said.

"I said before the last couple of weeks I'm more proud of these guys than any group I have been around. They proved that again today. They found a way and never quit."

Despite the ridiculous offensive numbers, the Rainbows won Game 2 thanks to pitching and defense.

With the game tied at 12 in the bottom of the sixth, Leo Aguirre, who hit a grand slam an inning earlier, drove a pitch deep to the wall in right field for what looked to be a go-ahead home run. But Jeff Van Doornum made a leaping catch above the wall and then threw out the runner at second base for a double play to end the inning.

"That glove disappeared behind the wall," Trapasso said. "Obviously, that was huge, especially to get the double play, too."

After Hernandez untied the game with a solo homer in the top of the eighth, the Aggies put runners on first and second with one out in the bottom of the inning. Jayson Kramer, who allowed four runs in less than an inning on Saturday, came on in relief and pitched his way out of the jam without allowing a run.

The Aggies had the same situation in the ninth after two hits put runners on first and second again, but Kramer battled back to strike out Franky Busani and induce a game-ending fly out by Marcus Quade to earn his fifth save of the season.

"Particularly after what he had done (Saturday) and how bad he was, to bounce back like that and go give us two zeros like he did shows what kind of kid he is," Trapasso said. "He just had a better look in his eye and went out there and was aggressive."

The Rainbows (26-27, 18-14 WAC) are the first team in conference to finish league play and look like they will be the three seed in the WAC tournament which begins in less than two weeks.

Hawaii is tied in the loss column with San Jose State and Sacramento State. Both would have to win their final five games to tie the Rainbows for third.

Nevada would have to lose four of its final five league games in order for Hawaii to have a shot at the second seed.

The Rainbows return home for finals beginning tomorrow before finishing the regular season with a three-game series against Utah Valley that gets under way Thursday.