LaTech hands Hawai'i 10th WAC loss in row

Advertiser Staff

Kyle Humphreys drove in four runs, including the game-winner on a single that scored Wade Robinson with no outs in the bottom of the 10th inning, as Louisiana Tech beat Hawai'i, 6-5, last night in Western Athletic Conference baseball at J. C. Love Field in Ruston, La.

Freshman Rich Olsen (2-2) pitched three scoreless innings until Robinson led off the 10th with a triple to left. The next two batters were intentionally walked to load the bases and Clary Carlsen came in to face Humphreys, who hit a grounder up the middle for the Bulldogs (11-21-1 overall, 4-9 WAC).

Hawai'i (18-18, 1-12) threatened in the top of the 10th when Brent Cook led off with an infield single to second and took second on Andrew Sansaver's sacrifice. But reliever Jason Schneider was lifted for Matt Varner (3-5), who struck out freshmen Matt Inouye and Rocky Russo to preserve the tie.

"It was a shame for Rich to get a loss because he really did pitch well," UH coach Mike Trapasso said.

Olsen was charged with one run on two hits and four walks (two intentional) in his three-plus innings.

The Rainbows, who have lost 10 consecutive WAC games, saw a 3-2 lead disappear in the sixth on a three-run home run by Humphreys, but tied the game in the seventh on a two-run single by Cook.

Hawai'i staked starter Nick Ponomarenko to an early lead against Louisiana Tech starter Jon Lockwood. Brian Finegan led off the game with a single to left and one out later, took third on Cook's single to right. Both scored on Sansaver's double to center. Tim Montgomery led off the second with his team-leading sixth home run to give UH a 3-0 lead.

The Bulldogs got a lead-off home run by Kyle Spangler in the third inning. He also scored in the fifth when he was hit by a pitch with one out, took second on a sacrifice and scored on Jody Wood's single to center to pull LaTech to 3-2.

Meanwhile, Lockwood had retired 16 of the next 18 batters after Montgomery's homer. In the bottom of the sixth with one out, Jeff Walker reached on third baseman Cook's fielding error and Ben Tabor walked. Humphreys homered to left to put LaTech up 5-3.

"It was disappointing," Trapasso said. "We had Lockwood on the ropes early and we let'em off the hook. Then all of a sudden, you look up and now there's four zeros after scoring three in the first two innings. To me, that's the story of the game. We have to have that killer instinct, finish off the guy and get into their bullpen early. Then you feel good about your chances."

The Bulldogs threatened to end the game in the ninth when they had runners at first and third with one out, but John Brandon lined out to second baseman Isaac Omura, who doubled off Wood at first.

The series continues at 1 p.m. (HST) today. The Rainbows will send right-hander Ricky Bauer (2-2) against left-hander Adam Kirkendall (2-6).

Note: No. 1 Rice (33-2, 12-0) had its 30-game winning streak snapped Tuesday with a 7-5 loss against Lamar (23-9), which made the regionals last year after winning the Southland Conference tournament championship.