Posted on: Sunday, April 25, 2004
Fresno St. blanks UH, 2-0
| • | Game statistics |
Advertiser Staff
Playing "uninspired" ball, Hawai'i was shut out for the second time in four games, 2-0, falling to Fresno State yesterday at Beiden Field in Fresno, Calif.
Nevada, which beat host San Jose State, 10-5, moved into a tie for second with the Rainbows in the Western Athletic Conference. Hawai'i (24-14 overall) and Nevada (23-18) are 8-6, 6ý games behind Rice (16-1, 33-7).
Fresno State sophomore Matt Garza (3-2), who entered the game with a 5.58 earned run average, pitched a four-hitter, allowing a walk with seven strikeouts for the first complete game of his career.
A week ago, Louisiana Tech junior Mitch Tucker threw his first career shutout, 1-0, against UH. He entered that game with an ERA over 8.
"He was very good, but we played without any toughness," UH coach Mike Trapasso said. "We played uninspired."
Only twice in the game did the Rainbows have more than one player reach base in an inning. They had runners on first and second with one out in the first, but Jaziel Mendoza popped out to shortstop and Creighton Kahoali'i flied out to center. They also had runners on first and third with one out in the seventh, only to watch Isaac Omura foul out to the catcher and Nate Thurber strike out.
At one stretch, the right-handed Garza retired 18 batters in a row.
Stephen Bryant (5-3) allowed two runs on five hits in seven-plus innings. He hit DeAndre Miller to start the eighth before Ryan Haag's triple to right-center ended the shutout and Bryant's day. Reliever Guy McDowell got Chris Patrick on a grounder to third with Haag holding, but Richie Robnett walked and Brandon Marcelli singled to right to score Haag.
Hawai'i played without its leading hitter, outfielder Greg Kish (.383), who injured his ankle in Friday's game. He might miss next week's Nevada series, too.
"Losing him is a big blow, but if you want to win games that we're capable of winning, then losing one of those guys can't be a factor for us," Trapasso said. "We have to step it up. It was a very disappointing performance."
The Rainbows will try to win their fourth consecutive WAC series today at 10 a.m., HST. The game will be broadcast on KKEA 1420 AM.
Clary Carlsen (6-4, 2.69) will pitch for UH against left-hander Brandon Miller (3-3, 4.93) of FSU.
