Rainbows wallop Vulcans, 16-2
By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer
The University of Hawai'i baseball team avoided a losing season by beating Hawai'i-Hilo, 16-2, last night in a Western Athletic Conference game at Rainbow Stadium.
The Rainbows (28-27, 15-20 WAC) will try to complete their second consecutive series sweep of the Vulcans (5-44, 3-32), who will try to snap a 19-game losing streak, in the season-ender at 6 tonight.
The Rainbows will honor retiring head coach Les Murakami tonight. He is expected to appear in a ceremony after the third inning. A sellout is anticipated.
"I told the players, there's nothing bigger than the game," UH acting coach Carl Furutani said. "But tomorrow night there will be. Les Murakami. And they (the players) know that. I think it will be emotional on both sides."
It will be Murakami's first appearance at a game since he suffered a stroke Nov. 2. He attended Tuesday's practice, the first time his players have seen him since the stroke.
"We talked to him a little bit, but we didn't want to hassle him too much," senior first baseman Danny Kimura said. "I just said, 'Hi, how are you doing?' "
As for last night, it was a repeat of the previous night for a crowd of 1,094. The Rainbows amassed 15 hits with each starter getting at least one and scoring at least once. Kimura led the barrage, batting 3-for-5 with four RBIs. Matthew Purtell was 2-for-4 with three RBIs, and Arthur Guillen was 3-for-4 and scored four runs.
Chad Giannetti (6-5) was perfect for four innings before allowing an infield single to second.
"It was kind of early so I wasn't thinking much about it," Giannetti said of his flawless start. "I was mixing my pitches well, hitting most of my spots. It was good to go away with a win and finish strong."
Matt Le Ducq pitched a scoreless eighth and closer Bryan Lee, sporting Dr. Seuss-like green and white striped socks, gave up two hits to start the ninth, but finished the game unscathed thanks to a double play and groundout.
It was another frustrating night for the Vulcans, who have not won since April 7, a 6-5 decision over Washington in the second game of a doubleheader. Starter Robert Shimabuku (1-11) lasted only 1¡ innings, allowing eight runs. Ryan Petersen, a right fielder before a wrist injury prevented him from batting, gave up four runs in four innings of relief. Clay Daugherty gave up three runs without retiring a batter. Darin Miyake was the most successful, pitching 2á scoreless innings.
The Rainbows sent 13 batters to the plate in a seven-run second inning, which featured two-run singles each by Kimura and Gregg Omori. Kimura's two-run first-inning single started the Rainbows' big night.
The Rainbows sent 10 batters to the plate in a five-run seventh, which featured two bases-loaded walks.
The Vulcans only runs came on a fifth-inning single by Darren Chu and an RBI double by Keola Park in the seventh.
Tosses: The stadium ticket office and gates will open at 4:30 p.m. today. Fans are advised that the state high school girls' basketball tournament will be played at the Stan Sheriff Center. . . . Tonight's scheduled starters are Sean Yamashita for UH and Ben Siff for UHH.
