UH beats Sacramento in baseball

Advertiser Staff

The University of Hawai'i baseball team survived a ninth-inning scare to fend off Sacramento State, 10-7, yesterday and complete a non-conference season series sweep.

The Rainbows (26-20) took a 10-4 lead into the bottom of the ninth, then watched the Hornets (28-20) send nine batters to the plate and score three runs before leaving the bases loaded to end the game at Hornet Field.

UH had swept a three-game series from visiting Sacramento State Feb. 14-16.

Justin Cayetano (3-2) gave up four runs — three with one out in the fifth — in 4 1/3 innings; he was credited with the decision despite not pitching the required minimum five innings because it was predetermined the game was going to be staffed.

In most of the previous mid-week games when UH coach Mike Trapasso staffed a game, the starter usually went at most three innings with relievers pitching an inning or two. But even Nick Ponomarenko went four-plus innings before Guy McDowell got the final two outs of the game.

"Actually, early on (Cayetano) was throwing very well, so we just left him in there," Trapasso said. "The same thing with Ponomarenko for the first couple of innings ... The guys that need work, we gave them bullpen work. They can just throw on the side."

Hornets starter Steve Cuckovich (6-4) allowed eight runs (two unearned) in 3 2/3 innings. He was followed by five relievers.

Every UH starter had at least one hit with six getting two hits each. Right fielder Josh Green had a double and solo home run, his second of the season, both of which have come away from Les Murakami Stadium.

"It was good to see," Trapasso said. "You just hope he's able to build on that."

The Rainbows owned a 3-1 lead before pulling away with a five-run fourth, when they sent 10 batters to the plate. They scored the first run on a bases-loaded error, then added a two-run double by Isaac Omura, a sacrifice fly by Brian Finegan and an RBI single by Jaziel Mendoza.