Hawai'i gets good hitting, pitching in 9-2 victory
By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer
After struggling for three runs over 13 innings Friday, the University of Hawai'i doubled that output in one inning to beat San Jose State, 9-2, last night and extend its win streak to a season-high seven.
The Rainbows (25-19 overall, 7-13 Western Athletic Conference) clinched their second conference series of the season and moved ahead of the Spartans (20-23, 6-13) for fourth place in front of 1,668 at Les Murakami Stadium.
"It's good that our offense helped out the pitching," said UH left fielder Jaziel Mendoza, whose lead-off double ignited the Rainbows' six-run second inning. "We've been getting a lot of good pitching and it was good that our offense got things going."
The early 6-0 lead against San Jose State starter Frank Esposito (1-3), who allowed eight runs (four earned) in four innings, was welcome relief for UH pitching during the team's hot run. The Rainbows beat the Spartans, 3-2, in 13 innings Friday.
Hawai'i starter Chris George (7-5) used the cushion, turning in 7 2/3 innings to win his third consecutive decision. He allowed two runs on six hits and two walks with seven strikeouts. Nick Ponomarenko pitched a scoreless 1¡ innings to finish.
"It's a big difference when you're able to put a six spot on the board early," UH coach Mike Trapasso said. "It makes everybody relax and let everyone play within themselves and Chris responded by putting up zeroes early. That was the important thing."
Mendoza was 2-for-4 as were Andrew Sansaver, Rocky Russo and Matt Inouye. Sansaver and Russo had two RBIs each. Mendoza is 8-for-22 with four doubles since returning to action April 15 after being sidelined with a stress fracture of his right fibula. He said the injury may have come from favoring his right leg when he returned to action after suffering a tear in his left calf.
"To me, it's no coincidence or no secret that we've been playing well since he's been back," Trapasso said. "He gives us some pop, it gives us somebody whose aggressive in the middle of our order and it kind of changes our lineup."
Mendoza's lead-off double ignited UH's six-run second inning when they sent 11 batters to plate against Esposito. Mendoza showed no effects of his injury when he beat first baseman Jordan Bergstrom's throw to third when Brian Bock reached on a fielder's choice. With runners at the corners, Inouye followed with an RBI single to left to put runners at first and second. Tim Montgomery reached second on a two-base throwing error by Bergstrom after fielding a bunt. Bock scored and Inouye made it to third. With runners at second and third with no out, Schafer Magana grounded out to second to score Inouye and move Montgomery to third. After Brian Finegan fouled out to first, Sansaver singled home Montgomery from third to make it 4-0. Brent Cook then hit an RBI double to left and scored on Russo's single to center to make it 6-0. Only two of the runs were earned.
Mendoza said because the injury was to his leg, he was still able to take batting practice to remain sharp.
The Rainbows added two in the fourth. With one out, Cook walked and scored on Russo's double to right-center. Russo moved to third on Mendoza's ground out to first and scored on Bock's infield single to second to make it 8-0.
The Spartans averted a shutout in the fifth. Nathan Corrick reached on an infield single to shortstop and took second when Jon Heuerman grounded out to shortstop. After Anthony Contreras struck out, David Pierson singled to right to score Corrick to pull to 8-1
The Rainbows will try to sweep for the second time in as many weekends at 1 p.m. today. Keahi Rawlins will start for UH.
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