Nevada hammers George, Rainbows

Advertiser Staff

Kevin Kouzmanoff drove in four runs to lead Nevada over Hawai'i, 10-5, yesterday in Western Athletic Conference baseball at Peccole Park in Reno, Nev.

The Wolf Pack (26-19 overall, 14-5 WAC) have won 10 consecutive meetings against UH (26-22, 7-16) dating to last season.

Chris George (7-6) had a personal three-game win streak snapped when the Wolf Pack tagged him for six runs in the second inning. He lasted 1 1/2 innings, allowing five hits and a walk in his shortest outing of the season.

The Rainbows staked George to a 3-0 lead against Nevada starter J.T. Sherman (7-4) in the first inning.

Brian Finegan homered to start the game. Andrew Sansaver singled, took second on a wild pitch and one out later, scored on Jaziel Mendoza's single. Mendoza stole second, and an out later, scored on Matt Inouye's single.

But Nevada sent 10 batters to the plate in the second inning against George. The Wolf Pack scored on an RBI single by Tony Cappuccilli, a force out grounder by Robert Marcial, a two-run single by Brett Hayes and Kouzmanoff's two-run double that ended George's day.

The Wolf Pack added two more runs in the fourth on Kouzmanoff's two-run home run against UH reliever Clary Carlsen to make it 8-2.

The Rainbows pulled to 8-5 with two runs in the seventh against Sherman, who was charged with five runs (one unearned) in 6 1/2 innings, allowing 13 hits and a walk with five strikeouts.

But Jacob Butler's two-run home run in the bottom of the seventh cushioned Nevada's lead.

Hawai'i right fielder Josh Green returned to action after being excused from Friday's game to be with his fiancee, who gave birth to a girl.

Despite little sleep, Green batted 3-for-4.

Mendoza was 3-for-5, as was Finegan. Inouye and Cook each had two hits, but the Rainbows' 15 hits were mostly untimely.

The Rainbows will try to avert a sweep at 10 a.m. (HST) today. Keahi Rawlins will pitch for UH against Eddie Bonine of Nevada.