Sacramento State stops UH, 5-2, in 13 innings

By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer

In a game lacking in fundamentals on both sides, Sacramento State scored three runs in the top of the 13th inning to beat Hawai'i, 5-2, last night in collegiate baseball.

Hawai'i's Brent Cook slides into second base with a stolen base while Sacramento State second baseman Bobby Ciani fields the ball in the first inning. At right, is Sacramento State shortstop Bret LeVier. Cook later scored on an error. The run closed Sacramento State's lead to 2-1. Jeff Widener • The Honolulu Advertiser

The Rainbows (2-4) squandered a strong relief outing by William Quaglieri (0-1), who allowed two runs in seven-plus inning in relief of starter Aaron Pribble. But the two runs came on Casey Fuller's two-run homer in the 13th, after Quaglieri pitched seven scoreless innings.

Jeff Groeger (1-0) allowed one run in seven innings in relief of starter Marshall Plouffe (one run in six innings) for the Hornets (1-1).

"The worst game I've probably seen in close to 10 years with both teams not wanting to win," UH coach Mike Trapasso said. "We showed when you don't play fundamentally sound, we'll get beaten. No matter who we're playing, we're going to get beaten. That's the way it was tonight."

In the top of the 13th, Everett Rincon led off with a hit by pitch by Quaglieri and stole second. On a 1-1 offering, Fuller homered to right center, chasing Quaglieri out of the game.

Chris George didn't fare any better, walking Pedro Santiago. But after two outs, one of which moved Santiago to second, Chris Kinsey singled to center to score Santiago before Chris McCormack struck out.

Although it took 13 innings to decide the game, the difference was in the first inning. With runners at first and second with two out, shortstop Cortland Wilson bobbled a grounder, then threw wide of second baseman Lane Nogawa, allowing both runners to score to give the Hornets a 2-0 lead off Pribble.

The Rainbows got one run back in the bottom of the first. With one out, Brent Cook was hit by a pitch, stole second and took third on Gregg Omori's ground single to right. Scooter Martines then reached first safely on a fielding error by third baseman Clinton Honeycutt. The run would have scored even if Honeycutt made the play cleanly for the second out, so the run was earned.

Meanwhile, Pribble battled control problems, walking seven in five innings, throwing 87 pitches. He threw 92 in 7¡ innings of relief last weekend.

But Pribble kept the Hornets in check long enough for the Rainbows to tie the game in the bottom of the seventh off Groeger. With two out, Nogawa walked, stole second and scored on Arthur Guillen's ground single to center. On the play, Guillen took second on the throw home, but was stranded there when Cook popped out to first.

Groeger settled, keeping the Rainbows scoreless for the next six innings.

Still, the Rainbows blew opportunities. They put the leadoff batter on to start the 11th and 12th innings. But Brian Bock and Guillen failed in their sacrifice attempts, respectively, in those frames.

"We couldn't do anything right for the most part," Trapasso said. "We didn't do well with Quaglieri pitching well."

The Rainbows had runners on first and second with one out in the 11th against Groeger. But pinch-hitter Danny Mocny flied out to center and Kevin Gilbride struck out.

In the 12th, Nogawa led off with a single, but was forced out on Guillen's bunt attempt. After Cook popped out to second, Guillen stole second, but was left there when Omori fouled out to the right fielder.

The series concludes at 1:05 p.m. today with UH freshman right-hander Ricky Bauer facing sophomore right-hander Kinsey, who started at first base the past two games for the Hornets.