Posted on: Saturday, May 4, 2002
Spartans again have Hawai'i's number in 8-1 victory
Advertiser Staff
San Jose State continued its dominance of Hawai'i in the Silicon Valley.
Mike Malott pitched a two-hitter — both infield singles — to lead the Spartans over the Rainbows, 8-1, last night in Western Athletic Conference baseball at Municipal Stadium in San Jose, Calif.
The Spartans (37-13, 15-7 WAC) have won 10 consecutive games spanning four seasons against the Rainbows (15-30, 4-15) at home. San Jose State has swept home series from UH since 1999. In fact, they have won 15 of their past 16 against the Rainbows at home.
Malott (6-2), who fired a one-hitter against UH, 12-0, on March 28 in the Easter Tournament, allowed a fourth-inning infield single to Brent Cook, who scored on an error, making it unearned, and a seventh inning bunt single by Danny Mocny. Malott walked three and struck out four in pitching his third complete game of the season, two against the Rainbows.
"Some pitchers just have your number and Malott's had ours," UH coach Mike Trapasso said. "He probably wishes he could pitch against us all the time."
Except for the series sweeps by Rice, this was the first time UH lost an opening game of a WAC series this season.
Hawai'i starter Chris George (5-4) was tagged for seven runs on 12 hits and two walks with two strikeouts in seven innings. Jason Piepmeier allowed a run in one relief inning.
Kevin Frandsen and Travis Becktel each had three RBIs for the Spartans. Frandsen also hit a two-run home run.
The Spartans started the scoring in the second inning on back-to-back doubles by Bryan Baker and Frandsen. But UH tied it in the fourth. Cook singled and took second when Gregg Omori walked. Scooter Martines grounded out to first, but first baseman Baker's throw to second struck Omori, allowing Cook to score on the error.
The Spartans added three in the bottom of the fourth on Frandsen's homer and an RBI single by Becktel, who added a two-run single in the sixth to give San Jose State a 6-1 lead.
San Jose State added run in the seventh when Dino Quintero singled, advanced to second on a sacrifice, took third on a George wild pitch and came home on Gabe Lopez's single.
The Spartans cushioned their lead in the eighth against Piepmeier. Two walks, followed by a sacrifice and a hit batsman loaded the bases. Quintero's sacrifice fly to right scored the eighth run.
Cook, the third baseman all season, made his debut in center field last night. Trapasso said Cook was originally recruited as a center fielder, but his versatility allowed him to fill a void at third base at the outset of the season.
Making that move possible was the emergence of Mocny at third base. Trapasso said he was pleased with the way Mocny played in last weekend's series. Trapasso added that Cook was adequate in center and might play more there the rest of the season.
"This allows us to try some things, see some guys at other positions, see where that leads us to next year," Trapasso said.
But Cook will not play today because he will attend his grandmother's funeral in Reno, Nev. He will return to the team in time for tomorrow's series finale, Trapasso said.
The series continues at 10 a.m. (HST) today. Sean Yamashita (2-6) will pitch for UH against SJSU's Jahseam George (7-1). The Rainbows scored six runs on 10 hits off George on March 23, but still lost to the Spartans, 11-7.
