Rice topples 'Bows, 9-4
Advertiser Staff
Rice sent 10 batters to the plate in a four-run fourth inning to drop Hawai'i, 9-4, in a Western Athletic Conference baseball series opener last night in Houston.
The Rainbows (14-25 overall, 3-10 WAC) extended their losing streak to three games. The Owls (33-8, 15-1), ranked third in the nation by Baseball America, stretched their winning streak to five before 2,005 at Reckling Park
The Rainbows owned leads of 2-1 after one inning and 3-2 after three before the Owls posted four in the fourth to chase UH starter Chris George (4-3), who gave up six runs on nine hits and four walks in 3á innings.
"His fastball command wasn't there and he had to go with his off-speed pitches," UH coach Mike Trapasso said. "They just beat us."
The Owls tacked on three more runs in the fifth off reliever Bryan Lee to take a commanding 9-3 lead. A two-run triple by A.J. Porfirio highlighted the inning.
Meanwhile, right-hander Steven Herce overcame a shaky first inning, when he allowed two runs and two walks, but was victimized by two errors. Herce (9-1) ended up throwing his team-leading third complete game, allowing four runs — three earned — on eight hits and two walks, while striking out seven.
Left fielder Scooter Martines led the Rainbows by batting 3-for-4, including a double and RBI single. Gregg Omori continued to roll along, batting 2-for-3 with a double and walk.
Leadoff hitter Chris Kolkhorst and No. 8 hitter Porfirio each had three RBIs for the Owls. Porfirio led their 14-hit attack by batting 3- for-4.
The Rainbows took a 2-0 lead in the first inning. Arthur Guillen walked, took second on a sacrifice and scored on Brent Cook's single to right. A wild pick-off throw by Herce moved Cook to second. After Omori walked, Cook scored on an error when Martines reached first on a fielder's choice grounder to shortstop. But Tim Montgomery rolled into a double play to end the inning.
Kolkhorst homered to start the bottom of the first against George for Rice, which tied the game in the second after Dave Bubela doubled, took third on Porfirio's infield single and scored when Justin Ruchti grounded into a double play.
The Rainbows regained the lead in the third. With two out, Omori singled and advanced to third on Martines' double. Omori then scored on a wild pitch.
But the Owls came back with four in the fourth on an RBI single by Porfirio, sacrifice fly by Kolkhorst and back-to-back RBI singles by Austin Davis and Eric Arnold.
The Owls added three in the fifth. After Paul Janish and Bubela reached on successive singles, both scored on Porfirio's triple to right. Porfirio later scored on Kolkhorst's single.
If there were any bright spots for UH yesterday, it was the two scoreless innings by freshman Jason Piepmeier, who allowed a hit and a walk.
"He threw really well," Trapasso said. "He kept the ball down. His curveball was unhittable. That was an encouraging thing. Putting up two zeros against the No. 3 team in the nation should build some confidence."
The series continues at 2 p.m. (HST) today. Sean Yamashita (2-4, 4.27) will pitch for UH against Rice's Philip Humber (7-1, 2.49).
Notes: UH's Danny Mocny started at DH yesterday. "It was just to give him some playing time," Trapasso said. Cortland Wilson was the DH the past two games.
