Rainbows battling for second in WAC

By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer

•	WAC baseball WHO: Nevada (8-7 WAC, 23-20 overall) vs. Hawai'i (8-7, 24-15) WHERE: Les Murakami Stadium TV: Live on KFVE channel 5. RADIO: Live on KKEA 1420 AM.

The Rainbows open a Western Athletic Conference three-game series against Nevada starting tonight. Both are tied for second with 8-7 records, more than two series sweeps behind defending conference and national champion Rice, which is 16-1. Right behind the Wolf Pack and Rainbows is 7-8 Fresno State.

The series is interesting because UH coach Mike Trapasso considers the Wolf Pack to be the hottest team in the WAC. After getting swept by Rice, Nevada has won nine of its last 12.

The series has become a concern because the Rainbows are likely to be without outfielder Greg Kish, the team's leading hitter at .383, with an ankle injury sustained over the weekend at Fresno State.

Also, closer Darrell Fisherbaugh (five saves) might miss tonight or possibly the series after waking up with a sore right shoulder Tuesday. Trapasso said an exam revealed Fisherbaugh might have tendinitis and rest was prescribed.

"You get to this time of year when guys can get some tenderness in the shoulder, or some nagging injuries that catch up to you," Trapasso said. "You have to deal with them. But obviously as a pitcher, if you can't throw, you can't throw. That will be interesting, but we have to have guys who can step up."

It might mean that Saturday starter Clary Carlsen could be on stand-by status to close tonight or tomorrow, Trapasso said. Guy McDowell has one save, but has been effective at settling games and providing a bridge between the starters and closer.

Meanwhile, the Rainbows will be facing one of the better offenses in the WAC. The Wolf Pack average 8.2 runs per game. While Peccole Park might favor hitters, Trapasso noted that Nevada also has hit well on the road, where it is 8-6.

"They're an outstanding offensive club and they were that way last year," Trapasso said. "No matter where we played them last year, they got the job done."

With that, the Wolf Pack are led by DH/first baseman Ben Mummy (.367, 8 HRs, 41 RBIs) and outfielder Jacob Butler (.366, 13 HRs, 44 RBIs). They are third and fourth, respectively, in batting average in the WAC.

The Hawai'i rotation remains the same with Ricky Bauer, Stephen Bryant and Carlsen in that order. Nevada's all-right-handed rotation, in order of appearance, is Travis Sutton, Adam Colton and Ryan Rodriguez.

Nevada has won 11 consecutive meetings against UH, which hasn't beaten the Wolf Pack since April 4, 2002 at UH.

The Rainbows need to win the series to move ahead of the Wolf Pack in the standings. They can worry about Fresno State in two weeks. With Rice a virtual lock to win the WAC title, that leaves second place and a strong overall record for consideration of an at-large NCAA tournament berth. The Rainbows have 17 games left, 15 of them in conference.

"We're playing for 35 wins and a chance to get a bid," Trapasso said. "We don't even talk about finishing first, finishing second because the truth is, it's not about that. Our goals at the beginning of the season were to finish in the top half of the league and to put ourselves in a position to get a bid. That's where our goals have been from Day 1."

Notes: Matt Inouye's 17 doubles in 38 games played, or a rate of .45, is ranked 18th nationally, according to the latest NCAA statistics. Bryant's 2.09 earned run average is 32nd ... In Tuesday's story on UH recruits, Dean Turner was misidentified. He is a pitcher from Bellevue (Wash.) College.

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