'Bows hope to get even with host Dons
By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer
Hawai'i takes off today for its second road trip of the season.
The Rainbows will play at San Francisco for a single game tomorrow at noon (HST) at Benedetti Field. It is the fourth time the teams will face; the Dons won 2 of 3 in Honolulu on Feb. 27-29.
The game will be broadcast live on KKEA 1420 AM.
The Rainbows (22-13) are trying to rebound from a 1-0 loss to Louisiana Tech on Sunday. Steven Wright (2-1) will start for UH tomorrow; USF, which has a game at UC Davis today, has yet to announce its starter.
Hawai'i coach Mike Trapasso said he will extend Wright as long as he is effective, but will at least give an inning to closer Darrell Fisherbaugh, regardless of the situation. Because UH's starters were so effective against Louisiana Tech, only Guy McDowell (3 1/3 innings) and Wright (one inning) were needed from the bullpen in that series.
"He'll go as long as he can go," Trapasso said of Wright. "If he goes seven (innings), then that's great for him."
Wright's longest outings of his four starts have been five innings. In both cases — against Hawai'i Pacific and Chicago State — he was the winning pitcher.
If the situation arises, Trapasso said he also would like to give Chuck Withers and Keahi Rawlins some work.
Hawai'i has won eight of its past 12, including winning its past three series.
The Dons (18-21) are coming off losing 2 of 3 in a West Coast Conference series against Saint Mary's.
The last time UH faced USF, Mid-Pacific Institute graduate Patrick McGuigan (1-2, 2.62 ERA) pitched 5 1/3 innings of relief in a 7-4 series-clinching win. McGuigan leads the Dons in appearances (20) and saves (four).
The second of three road trips for the Rainbows also is the shortest. They conclude this trip with a three-game Western Athletic Conference series at Fresno State starting Friday.
Notes: According to NCAA statistics as of Sunday, UH's Matt Inouye is ranked 15th nationally in doubles at .47 per game (16 in 34 games). Also, pitcher Stephen Bryant's 2.03 ERA is ranked 31st.
Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at skaneshiro@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8042.
