Baseball 'Bows welcome No. 2 Rice

By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer

Six-time defending Western Athletic Conference champion Rice invades Les Murakami Stadium to play Hawai'i in the series to see in 2003 for college baseball fans here.

Everyone knows about Rice's pitching and hitting. But where the Owls have been excelling beyond normalcy is fielding. In 17 games totaling 630 chances, Rice has made just four errors to give the team an astounding WAC-best .994 fielding percentage. Hawai'i has 24 errors (.967).

"They are a tremendous team in all phases," UH coach Mike Trapasso said. "That's the way they were last year and the additions they've had make them better. They're just a very good team and they are ranked 1 or 2 for a good reason."

For starters, well, that's where it begins for Rice, which leads the WAC in team earned run average at 2.57. The Owls probable starting pitchers — right-handers Jeff Niemann (4-0, 1.45), Philip Humber (4-0, 3.45) and Josh Baker (3-0, 3.30) — have combined to allow fewer hits (61) to innings pitched (89), while striking out 96 against 14 walks issued. And this does not include Steve Herce, picked in preseason to be the WAC's Pitcher of the Year. Herce has been out with a rotator cuff inflammation.

"We have to adjust first and foremost for the offspeed," Trapasso said of Rice's pitching. "All are prospects with high-velocity arms. They're well-rounded."

And if any of the three have a lead entering the last few innings, closer David Aardsma (3-0, 1.10) isn't any easier to solve. He has 16 strikeouts in 16 1/3 innings while notching four saves, one shy of his last year's total.

Meanwhile, the Rainbows have been without two of three projected starting pitchers because of an injury (Colby Summer) and ineligibility (Justin Azze). Then after making quality starts in their first four appearances, Chris George (4-1, 3.41) and Justin Cayetano (2-1, 3.07) are coming off their least effective outings of the season over the weekend at Fresno State, which won 2-of-3 games.

Ricky Bauer (1-0, 4.58) is coming off an effective start after two consecutive outings in which he lasted a combined 4 2/3 innings. Bauer had a strong outing at Rice last year in which he have up three runs (one unearned) and nine hits in 6 1/3 innings but got a no-decision.

The Owls also lead the WAC with a team batting average of .307. They are led by preseason All-America first baseman Vincent Sinisi, who is batting .370 with two home runs and 12 RBIs in 17 games. The WAC's preseason pick as Player of the Year tore apart UH pitching in last year's series here. He batted 9 for 12 with six runs, six RBIs and two home runs.

Also back is right fielder Austin Davis (.348, 16 RBIs), who was 15 for 27 against UH last season, and shortstop Paul Janish (.391), left fielder Chris Kolkhorst (.348) and second baseman Enrique Cruz (.317, 3 HRs, 16 RBIs).

Ironically, the Rainbows enter the series with more home runs than Rice (15 to 11), a higher on-base percentage (.403 to .389) and a higher slugging percentage (.458 to .428). Hawai'i has combined for more walks plus hit batsmen to strikeouts (109-104); Rice is similar at 87-85.

NOTES: Hawai'i designated hitter Jaziel Mendoza has been bothered with a stress fracture of his foot since the team returned from last weekend's road trip. He might miss up to several weeks, Trapasso said. "That could hurt a little because Jaz has been swinging the bat well," he said of Mendoza, who is batting .281 with three doubles and a home run in 10 games. Trapasso said Mendoza's role could be filled by a number of players, such as Isaac Omura, Nick Ponomarenko, Matt Inouye and Tyler Wightman.

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