Hawai'i beats Rice again, 7-3
Advertiser Staff
Chad Giannetti pitched eight strong innings and took advantage of a six-run first inning as Hawai'i beat nationally ranked Rice, 7-3, yesterday at Reckling Park in Houston.
Giannetti (3-4), starting in place of the injured Wakon Childers, allowed three runs, two hits and two walks in eight-plus innings.
The Rainbows took 2-of- 3 in the Western Athletic Conference series against the Owls, No. 2 in one of three rankings. The Rainbows (20-23, 10-17 WAC) finished their Texas road trip with a 3-3 record. The Owls (36-13, 21-6) have dropped four of their past six.
Childers lasted only two innings in a start against Texas Christian last weekend after experiencing discomfort in this throwing arm because of the way he slept on it the night before.
Giannetti was perfect through five innings. He allowed a walk and hit a batsman to start the sixth, and a fielding error by first baseman Danny Kimura allowed the first run to score. It was an earned run because the run would have scored regardless of whether Kimura got the out at first.
In the ninth, Giannetti allowed a two-run home run to A.J. Porfirio. But Bryan Lee got the final three outs after allowing a walk.
The Rainbows gave Giannetti a hefty cushion in the first inning against Rice starter Jeff Nichols (3-3), who lasted just two-thirds of an inning. The Rainbows sent 11 batters to the plate in the inning.
Brian Bock led the Rainbows' 14-hit attack by batting 3-for-5. Arthur Guillen, who led off the game with a double, was 2-for-5 with an RBI.
