Posted on: Tuesday, May 21, 2002

Hot-hitting Nevada rips UH, 14-1

Advertiser Staff

It was 48 degrees at Peccole Park yesterday, but Nevada's bats did not cool off.

The Wolf Pack amassed 19 hits, batted around in a four-run third and sent 10 to the plate in a seven-run eighth to roll over Hawai'i, 14-1, and complete a three-game sweep of a Western Athletic Conference baseball series in Reno, Nev.

Nevada (25-29 overall, 10-17 WAC) handed the Rainbows (16-37, 5-22) their fifth consecutive loss. The Rainbows conclude their worst season in history with a three-game series at Fresno State starting Friday. The highest they could finish in the WAC is fifth, providing they sweep in Fresno and Louisiana Tech is swept by Rice, now ranked No. 1 by Baseball America.

It was the fourth WAC series sweep against UH this season; Rice did it twice, San Jose State once.

Darrell Rasner (7-7) allowed a run on four hits and four walks with 11 strikeouts in seven innings for the Wolf Pack. Bryan Johnson and George Moran pitched a scoreless inning each in relief.

"It was raw," UH coach Mike Trapasso said of the weather. "It was miserable out there, but that didn't seem to affect Rasner. He was lights out."

Of the Rainbows' five hits, four were for extra bases, all against Rasner. Danny Mocny, Lane Nogawa and Arthur Guillen each doubled and Chad Boudon hit a solo home run. Scooter Martines singled against Johnson in the eighth, but was erased when Kevin Gilbride hit into a double play.

Bryan Lee (2-3), making his first start since March 15, gave up seven runs (six earned) in 2° innings on six hits and four walks. Sean Yamashita allowed successive home runs to Mike Gillies and Tony Cappuccilli and was replaced in the eighth after his 4· innings stint. Chad Giannetti gave up six runs in that inning, including a home run to the first batter he faced, Josh Laidlaw, meaning the Wolf Pack hit three successive homers.

The Rainbows, already playing without first baseman Gregg Omori because of a biceps injury, also lost shortstop Julian Russell, whose glove hand was spiked in Sunday's game. Trapasso said Russell suffered a deep cut, which was treated at an area hospital. He said Russell was unable to squeeze his hand, but should be ready by Friday.

Russell's loss triggered a number of moves. Nogawa shifted from second base to shortstop, Danny Mocny from third to second and Brent Cook from center to third base, where he started the season.

The Wolf Pack sent eight batters to the plate in the first inning with Mike Hass delivering a two-run single. Earlier in the day, he was named WAC Player of the Week, mostly because of damage done against UH in the previous two games. Hass had eight RBIs and two three-run homers Saturday.

Chris Dickerson hit the first of five Nevada homers in the second inning. A run-scoring double by Craig Markel, an RBI single by Matt Maguire and a two-run single by Gillies were the big blows in a four-run third that chased Lee.