LaTech quells UH
POSTED: Friday, May 01, 2009
Louisiana Tech got all the offense it needed on one swing.
Mark Threlkeld capitalized on a two-out error by Hawaii with a three-run homer and freshman Jeb Stefan cruised his way through a career-high 7 2/3 innings as the Bulldogs defeated Hawaii 5-1 to take the first of a four-game series last night at Les Murakami Stadium.
Stefan baffled the 'Bows in front of a crowd of 1,252, striking out a career-high 12 and allowing five hits in 128 pitches.
Ryan Morford finally got to him with a solo homer to lead off the eighth, but Stefan battled back to get Vinnie Catricala to ground out and Kevin Macdonald to strike out before being lifted for a lefty to face Kolten Wong.
Mike Jefferson got Wong to ground out to end the inning as the Rainbows freshman finished 0-for-3 to end his 16-game hitting streak.
“;I was starting to get a little fatigued, but it's one of those things that you just fight through,”; Stefan said about going back out for the eighth inning. “;I wanted to start the first game off right for us because this is a big series.”;
Louisiana Tech (23-18, 8-9 Western Athletic Conference) inched to within two games of idle Nevada for first place in the WAC, while the Rainbows (26-17, 9-7) fell out of at least a share of the lead for the first time in two weeks.
“;(Stefan) was that good tonight and these guys showed this is an important series to them,”; Hawaii coach Mike Trapasso said. “;They came out and had great life and great energy to them and we just looked tired and lifeless.”;
Stefan held the Rainbows to one hit over the first four innings before a fielding error opened the door for Hawaii in the fifth. Landon Hernandez doubled to put runners on second and third when UH's struggles with men in scoring position began.
Sean Montplaisir grounded out to the pitcher with nobody out and Jeff Van Doornum struck out. Matt Roquemore was hit by a pitch, but Greg Garcia popped out to the shortstop on the first pitch to leave the bases full.
Hernandez struck out with runners on first and second in the sixth and Garcia lined out to first with two runners on to end the game in the ninth.
The Bulldogs tacked on an insurance run in the seventh on a two-out single by Kyle Roliard that scored Threlkeld.
Jayson Kramer (4-4) took the loss for Hawaii in the first complete game of his career. The three runs scored on Threlkeld's homer in the fourth were unearned after an error by Catricala as Kramer finished the day with seven hits and two earned runs allowed and no walks.
“;Really, the only bad pitch Kramer made all night was right after the error,”; Trapasso said. “;That was the only fly ball to the outfield all night.”;
Threlkeld finished 3-for-4 with three RBIs for Louisiana Tech, while Roquemore had two hits for Hawaii.
The 'Bows will try to even the series tonight on the arm of freshman Matt Sisto (4-4, 4.12), who will start opposite Louisiana Tech's Dylan Moseley (4-3, 5.34).
LaTech 5, Hawaii 1
| LaTech | AB | R | H | BI | Hawaii | AB | R | H | BI | |
| Thomas lf | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Garcis ss | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Grunenwald cf | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Morford 2b | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| Winn 2b | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Catricala 3b | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Dageford rf | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | Macdonald 1b | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| Kersten ss | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | Wong cf | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Williams 1b | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | Hernandez c | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| Threlkeld 3b | 4 | 2 | 3 | 3 | Montplaisir lf | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Ewing c | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Hoey ph | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Moseley dh | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Van Doornum dh | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Roliard ph/dh | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | Torigoe ph | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Roquemore rf | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||||||
| Totals | 32 | 1 | 5 | 1 | Totals | 34 | 5 | 7 | 5 |
| LaTech | 010 | 300 | 100 | — | 5 | 7 | 1 |
| Hawaii | 000 | 000 | 010 | — | 1 | 5 | 2 |
E—Kersten; Garcia; Catricala. DP—La Tech 1; Hawaii 1. LOB—La Tech 2; Hawaii 9. 2B—Kersten; Hernandez. HR—Threlkeld; Morford. HBP—Wong; Roquemore.
| La Tech | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO |
| Stefan (W, 4-5) | 7 2/3 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 12 |
| Jefferson | 1 1/3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| Hawaii | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO |
| Kramer (L, 4-4) | 9 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 4 |
Umpires—Kenneth Durham (Plate); Ken Eldridge(First); John Bullock (Third).
T—2:18. A—1,252.
WAC Standings
| Conference | Overall | |||||
| W | L | Pct. | GB | W-L | ||
| Nevada | 7 | 4 | .636 | — | 22-20 | |
| San Jose State | 7 | 5 | .583 | 1/2 | 31-14 | |
| Hawaii | 9 | 7 | .562 | 1/2 | 26-17 | |
| New Mexico State | 9 | 7 | .562 | 1/2 | 34-10 | |
| Louisiana Tech | 8 | 9 | .470 | 2 | 23-18 | |
| Sacramento State | 4 | 8 | .333 | 3 1/2 | 23-20 | |
| Fresno State | 4 | 8 | .333 | 3 1/2 | 20-23 |
Yesterday
Louisiana Tech 5, Hawaii 1
Today
Louisiana Tech at Hawaii, 6:35 p.m.
San Jose State at Scramento State
Nevada at Fresno State
Houston Baptist at New Mexico State
