Posted on: Sunday, March 28, 2004
Carlsen pitches Rainbows past LaTech, 8-1
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Advertiser Staff
Clary Carlsen threw his first career complete game to lead Hawai'i over Louisiana Tech, 8-1, yesterday to take the Western Athletic Conference series 2-1 at J. C. Love Field in Ruston, La.
The Rainbows (3-3 WAC, 17-10 overall) had their most successful road trip in UH coach Mike Trapasso's three seasons at 3-3, after starting it 1-2 at Rice.
"I think it was a good trip for us," Trapasso said. "We went into it with the goal of coming out 3-3. To do that on the road when you're playing at Rice, which is the defending national champs, and at Louisiana Tech, which has the most unpredictable ballpark (because of the relatively short dimensions and unpredictable atmospheric conditions) where anything can happen. It's a good trip for us. It gets us off to a solid start in league and we just have to continue to play well."
Carlsen (5-3), a senior who was solely a reliever last season, scattered six hits with no walks and four strikeouts. The only run charged to him was unearned.
"You could tell from the outset that he was going to be on today," Trapasso said. "He had tremendous life on his fastball today. He had great sink (on his pitches) working. He had a good angle going and he was consistent with his slider. The feeling early on was if we could score a few runs, we'd have a chance at holding them down."
Carlsen was backed by a 16-hit assault on Bulldogs' pitching. Brad Chedister (0-1) gave up four runs in 1á innings and Matt Lacy allowed four more in 3á innings.
For the second consecutive game, each UH starter had at least one hit. Brian Finegan and Isaac Omura — the leadoff and ninth hitters in the order — each had three hits. Omura had a two-run double in a three-run fifth.
Greg Kish, Rocky Russo and Creighton Kahoali'i each had two hits. Kish had an RBI double in UH's three-run second to extend his hitting streak to 12. Kish and Russo also hit solo home runs, their first and third of the season, respectively.
The Bulldogs (2-4, 11-18) will play at UH April 16-18, the back side of an eight-game homestand for the Rainbows, who return home today. Their next WAC series is against San Jose State starting Friday at Les Murakami Stadium.
The Rainbows' 3-3 start in WAC play is considerably better than last season, when UH started 1-13 in conference play before winning its next six in a row. There will be no complacency on UH's part. Not after its 1-5 start this season.
"They understand that with the early adversity we faced the first couple of series showed we have to play our type of baseball," Trapasso said. "We have to play with a lot of energy and toughness or we're not going to beat anyone."
