Freshman pitches out of jam to preserve UH win

Advertiser Staff

Freshman Guy McDowell earned his first save despite getting into a bases-loaded situation in the ninth inning as the University of Hawai'i baseball team edged Centenary, 3-1, yesterday at Sheehee Stadium in Shreveport, La.

McDowell pitched two innings to preserve the lead for freshman starter Keahi Rawlins (2-2). Rawlins walked six, but allowed only two hits in six-plus innings for the Rainbows (18-17), who snapped a three-game skid.

Dave Ruffing (2-4) went the distance, allowing 10 hits with no walks and six strikeouts for the Gents (19-19). But he committed four errors, three on pick-off attempts, including one that scored two runs in the seventh inning that turned out to be the difference.

When Rawlins allowed a lead-off walk in the seventh, he was pulled for Clary Carlsen, who got a double play and ground out to end the inning.

But when Carlsen allowed an infield single and double to start the eighth, McDowell came in to get the next three outs while stranding the runners. He then struck out the first two batters in the ninth before hitting pinch-hitter Bryan Scanlon and allowing successive singles to Bobby Gilliam, Patrick Beale and Patrick Jolley to account for the Gents' only run. But McDowell got pinch-hitter Jacob Willett to ground out to shortstop to end the game.

Kevin Gilbride opened the UH third with a bunt single and advanced to second and third on back-to-back pick-off throwing errors by Ruffing. Gilbride scored on Brian Finegan's single to center to make it 1-0.

The Rainbows got two runs in the seventh with two outs. Gilbride singled and took second when Finegan reached on a fielding error by Ruffing. Isaac Omura's infield single loaded the bases, but Ruffing's throwing error on a pick-off at first scored two runs before Brent Cook struck out to end the inning.

Hawai'i will resume Western Athletic Conference play at Louisiana Tech starting tomorrow in Rustin, La.

• Box score in For the Record