Rainbows lose 12th straight in WAC, 7-6

Advertiser Staff

A late-inning defensive replacement robbed Matt Inouye of at least a two-run extra base hit in the top of the ninth, and five Hawai'i errors led to six unearned runs in Louisiana Tech's 7-6 Western Athletic Conference baseball win yesterday at J.C. Love Field in Ruston, La.

The Rainbows (18-19 overall, 1-13 WAC) have lost 12 consecutive conference games and have dipped under .500 for the first time this season. The Bulldogs (12-21-1, 5-9) will try for the sweep at 8 a.m. (HST) today.

With UH trailing the Bulldogs 7-5 in the ninth, one out, and runners at the corners, Antonio Sabatini, who entered the game in the eighth inning, hauled in Inouye's deep fly to center against the outfield wall off closer Matt Varner. Inouye had to settle for a sacrifice fly before Varner struck out Tim Montgomery, who hit two home runs earlier, notched his first save.

Inouye hit his first home run of the season in the eighth inning to center field. It preceded Montgomery's second homer of the game — he also had a two-run shot in the top of the fourth to give UH a short-lived 2-0 lead.

The Bulldogs erased their deficit when they sent 10 batters to the plate in a five-run fourth inning. UH tied a school record in that inning by committing four of its season-high five errors. Shortstop Brian Finegan tied a school record with Michael Dartt (1999 vs. Air Force) by committing three errors in the inning. He also committed another in the sixth, falling one shy of the school's single-game mark held by Mark McWherter (1986 vs. Stanford).

The errors spoiled an otherwise effective outing by starter Ricky Bauer (2-3), who was charged with seven runs — only one earned — in 5¡ innings. Justin Cayetano blanked the Bulldogs the final 2á innings with five strikeouts to keep the Rainbows in striking distance.

Adam Kirkendall (3-6) gave up five runs (three earned) in 7¡ innings for LaTech.

"It's not just Brian Finegan making four errors," UH coach Mike Trapasso said. "If we swing the bats like we did the last two innings, then we probably score about 13 runs."

Hawai'i had the bases loaded with one out in the fifth, but Inouye grounded into an inning-ending double play.

The Rainbows will start Chris George (4-5) today.

Trapasso said outfielder Jaziel Mendoza might be available for action today. He has been out with a stress fracture in his foot.