'Bows fumble away chance to win opener
POSTED: Friday, April 10, 2009
Reigning Western Athletic Conference hitter of the week Travis Simas hit a two-run walk-off homer in the 12th inning to give Nevada a 14-12 win over Hawaii yesterday in the first game of a four-game series at Peccole Park in Reno, Nevada.
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The homer off Rainbows reliever Lenny Linsky (1-1), one of six pitchers used by Hawaii in the game, capped an ugly loss for the Rainbows.
Hawaii committed four errors, which led to three unearned runs by the Wolf Pack, and walked 11 batters.
“;We pitched like freshmen today and that even includes the guys that aren't freshmen,”; Hawaii coach Mike Trapasso said. “;The thing I'm most disappointed with is we lost our poise on the mound today and that's the first time all year we have done that.”;
The Rainbows also suffered injuries to two key players. Shortstop Greg Garcia, who had started all 31 games this season, hurt his thumb before the game and was pulled for Shane Hoey in the bottom of the fifth inning after making two errors. Then, in the 10th inning, reliever Sam Spangler came out of the game with a sore back.
“;We won't know until (today),”; Trapasso said of Garcia and Spangler's status.
Kolten Wong went 4-for-6 with a home run and three RBIs and Garcia was 2-for-2 and drove in two runs before being replaced by Hoey in the fifth.
Christian Johnson drilled a pinch-hit three-run homer over the fence in left field for the game's fourth lead change, putting the Rainbows up 12-9 in the seventh.
But the Wolf Pack took advantage of two errors by Hoey in the eighth inning to score three runs and tie the game at 12.
Hawaii, which finished with 18 hits, only had two the rest of the way. Spangler pitched into the 10th before hurting his back, forcing Linsky to take his place. Linsky left runners on second and third in the 10th inning and stranded two more Wolf Pack runners in the 11th before Simas touched him with his sixth homer of the season to end the game after 3 hours and 58 minutes.
“;I was disappointed we didn't score the last five innings, but 12 runs should be enough, even in this ballpark,”; Trapasso said.
Jayson Kramer lasted four innings in his shortest outing of the season. He pitched into the fifth, but Matt Bowman led off with a home run and Kramer allowed a single and a double before being relieved by Harrison Kuroda.
Kuroda worked the rest of the inning despite being unable to get loose. Jesse Moore took over in the sixth inning and walked three straight batters after recording an out, forcing Trapasso to go to the bullpen yet again.
“;They came out trying to overthrow everything and you can't do that, especially in this ballpark,”; Trapasso said. “;It's just a shame because we didn't pitch well and we still had a chance to win the thing, but we make errors that cost us runs.”;
It's the first time all season the bullpen will be worn down heading into the weekend, making today an even bigger start for senior Jared Alexander, who hasn't pitched well the last four weeks. Alexander (0-1, 5.87) will try to pull the 'Bows (20-11, 3-2) even with the Wolf Pack (15-16, 4-1) at the top of the WAC standings.
Chris Garcia (2-3, 5.40) will start for Nevada.
WAC Standings
| W | L | Pct. | GB | W-L | ||
| Nevada | 4 | 1 | .800 | — | 15-16 | |
| New Mexico State | 3 | 1 | .750 | 1/2 | 20-10 | |
| Hawaii | 3 | 2 | .600 | 1 | 20-11 | |
| San Jose State | 1 | 3 | .250 | 2 1/2 | 20-8 | |
| Sacramento State | 1 | 3 | .250 | 2 1/2 | 17-12 | |
| Louisiana Tech | 1 | 3 | .250 | 2 1/2 | 13-12 | |
| Fresno State | 0 | 0 | .000 | 1 1/2 | 16-14 |
Yesterday
Nevada 14, Hawaii 12, 12 innings
Louisiana Tech at San Jose State, PPD rain
Today
Hawaii at Nevada, 3 p.m.
Louisiana Tech at San Jose State (2)
New Mexico State at Fresno State
Utah Valley at Sacramento State (2)
Tomorrow
Hawaii at Nevada (2), 10 a.m.
Louisiana Tech at San Jose State (2)
New Mexico State at Fresno State
Utah Valley at Sacramento State (2)
Sunday
New Mexico State at Fresno State
Monday
New Mexico State at Fresno State
Nevada 14, Hawaii 12, 12 inn.
| Hawaii | AB | R | H | BI | Nevada | AB | R | H | BI |
| Garcia ss | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | Bowman dh | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 |
| Hoey ss | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | Rodland ss | 6 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Morford 2b | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Kort 1b | 5 | 1 | 3 | 5 |
| Catricala 3b | 5 | 2 | 2 | 0 | Jaquez 3b | 5 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| Macdonald 1b | 5 | 1 | 2 | 1 | Melino lf | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Wong cf | 6 | 3 | 4 | 3 | Turay ph | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Hernandez c | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | Sing Chow lf | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Van Doornum dh | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | Hart rf | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Montplaisir lf | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | Henry rf | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Roquemore rf | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Leid 2b | 6 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Johnson ph/rf | 3 | 1 | 1 | 3 | Simas | 6 | 1 | 3 | 3 |
| Moss cf | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | |||||
| Totals | 48 | 12 | 18 | 12 | Totals | 46 | 14 | 15 | 13 |
| Hawaii | 030 | 040 | 500 | 000 | — | 12 | 18 | 4 |
| Nevada | 002 | 223 | 030 | 002 | — | 14 | 15 | 2 |
E—Garcia 2; Hoey 2; Jaquez; Stassi. DP—Hawaii 2; Nevada 2. LOB—Hawaii 7; Nevada 14. 2B—Garcia; Hernandez; Bowman; Kort. 3B—Leid. HR—Wong; Johnson; Bowman; Simas. HBP—Melino; Leid. S—Hart; Moss. SF—Macdonald; Montplaisir; Melino. SB—Kort; Henry. CS—Hoey; Montplaisir; Rodland; Kort.
| Hawaii | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO |
| Kramer | 4 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| Kuroda | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Moore | 1/3 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Little | 1 2/3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Spangler | 2 2/3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| Linsky (L, 1-1) | 1 2/3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| Nevada | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO |
| Stassi | 5 1/3 | 11 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 4 |
| Miller | 2/3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| Graham | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Tinlin (W, 2-0) | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
Umpires—Kenneth Durham(Plate); Joe Burleson (First); Jason Venzon (Third).
T—3:58 A—602.
