Rawlins, Wright get fresh starts for 'Bows

By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer

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WHAT: College baseball WHO: Sacramento State (19-19) vs. Hawai'i (19-11) WHEN/WHERE: 6:35 tonight and tomorrow/Les Murakami Stadium TICKETS: $5 blue and orange sections; $5 red section adults; $4 65-years-and-older; $3 UH students and students ages 4-18 PARKING: $3 TV: Live on KFVE RADIO: KKEA 1420 AM will broadcast both games live PROBABLES: Tonight—CSUS TBA vs. UH RHP Keahi Rawlins (1-1, 3.97); Tomorrow—CSUS TBA vs. UH RHP Steven Wright (2-1, 4.86)

Game times are 6:35 p.m. at Les Murakami Stadium.

Rawlins (1-1, 3.97), a sophomore right-hander, and Wright (2-1, 4.86) a freshman right-hander, both struggled in their first starts of the season. Rawlins gave up five runs (four earned) in 2¡ innings against Texas, while Wright gave up five runs in 1á innings against Cal State Northridge. But both have won starts since. Rawlins went five innings against Chicago State, while Wright has won two, each a five-inning outing in wins against Hawai'i Pacific and Chicago State.

"We expect them to pitch well and we hope they do well," UH coach Mike Trapasso said. "Like anybody else's status, the better you do, the more you do."

Their outings have been limited because of the success of Stephen Bryant (4-2, 2.17) and Clary Carlsen (6-3, 2.95) during the past month. Carlsen has won his past four starts, while Bryant is 3-1 in his four previous outings. In Bryant's 3-0 loss to Rice, all of the runs were unearned.

Also, since No. 1 starter Ricky Bauer, Bryant and Carlsen have lasted at least six innings in most of their starts, relief stints for anybody have been few.

If Rawlins and Wright have strong outings against the Hornets, that could present problems that coaches welcome.

"That's what recruiting and depth are all about," Trapasso said. "You want to create guys pushing each other. You want that competition."

Hawai'i's rotation was so effective in the San Jose State series, only Guy McDowell and Darrell Fisherbaugh saw action out of the bullpen. They combined for four of the team's 28 innings in the series.

After the Sacramento State series, the Rainbows have a bye this weekend. They don't resume Western Athletic Conference play until April 16-18 against Louisiana Tech. Trapasso said Bauer could be used in relief to stay sharp.

The Rainbows might have played their best series of the season against San Jose State. They got strong pitching and superb fielding. The offense scored in six of 26 innings, so the hitting, if anything, was timely.

Shortstop Brian Finegan was 7 for 11 (.636) against the Spartans for a performance usually worthy of weekly WAC honors. But Rice shortstop Paul Janish was 10 for 12 (.833), including going 6 for 6 with two home runs in one of the games in a sweep of Nevada, and wound up taking the Player of the Week award.

The Hornets (19-19), who have lost four in a row, arrived here last night for a week-long trip. They will play at UH-Hilo for a three-game series Friday through Sunday.

Sacramento State has five players with ties to Hawai'i, four of whom played high school ball here.

Craig Johnson, who played for UH in 2002 (0 for 4 in three games), is a starting outfielder for the Hornets, batting .328 with four homers and 28 RBIs.

Also on the team are outfielder Jimmy Strombach (Moanalua), catcher Brett Tanigawa (Moanalua), pitcher Chris Mols (Roosevelt) and infielder Taylor Watanabe ('Aiea).

The Hornets have yet to announce their starting pitchers for the series.

Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at skaneshiro@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8042.