No. 3 Rice routs Hawai'i in baseball finale

By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer

On the day of a sushi restaurant's sponsorship, third-ranked Rice rolled Hawai'i, 13-1, yesterday to avoid getting swept in the Western Athletic Conference series.

Hawai'i's Jaziel Mendoza goes down after being hit by a pitch from Josh Baker in the first inning. Rice won, 13-1. Deborah Booker • The Honolulu Advertiser

Although a sweep would have been sweet, the Rainbows hope taking the series sparks interest with the NCAA tournament selection committee.

"I think we made a statement this weekend that if we continue to do what we are trying to do and do reach our goals, that we deserve to be a postseason team," UH coach Mike Trapasso said. "But that's a long way. We still have nine games to go in league. But if we do win 35, by what we did this weekend, I think we showed we're worthy of getting a bid."

Hawai'i's wins in the series marked Rice's first losing streak of the season. The Owls had not lost consecutive games since May 18 and 23 against San Jose State and Fresno State last season.

"The series was a big confidence-booster for us," UH shortstop Brian Finegan said. "To beat the No. 3 team in the nation two out of three, that's the biggest games of my career."

Rice smacked four home runs, two by Lance Pendleton that gave Owls' starter Josh Baker (7-3) the support he needed in his 6á innings of work. Baker gave up a run on three hits and two walks with six strikeouts.

Adam Rodgers and Adam Hale each had two-run home runs in Rice's seven-run seventh off Chuck Withers and Keahi Rawlins, respectively.

Hawai'i starter Clary Carlsen (6-6) stayed close with Baker. After a 45-pitch first inning in which Pendleton worked 11 pitches before drilling the 12th for a two-run home run to left, Carlsen settled until Pendleton rocked him for a fifth-inning solo shot to right.

Carlsen walked the first two batters in the seventh. After a sacrifice moved the runners, it appeared he might escape the jam after he got Austin Davis on a foul pop to the shortstop. But Paul Janish drilled a two-run single to open Rice's lead to 5-1 and end Carlsen's day.

"Janish got a good pitch," Carlsen said. "Maybe I shouldn't have thrown that pitch. Maybe I should've thrown him a change or a fastball, but maybe he would've hit that, too. He hit a slider."

Although a four-run deficit was within reasonable striking distance, Trapasso said Guy McDowell and Darrell Fisherbaugh were taxed from their previous outings in the series. McDowell went a combined 3á scoreless innings in picking up a save Friday and a win Saturday; Fisherbaugh used 29 pitches Saturday. Trapasso said 30 is a reliever's limit that necessitates a day of rest.

"It was a situation where we were not going to bring him in unless it was a tie or a save situation," Trapasso said of Fisherbaugh.

Withers gave up three runs without getting an out, while Rawlins allowed four in one inning. Steven Wright restored order with 1 1/3 scoreless innings.

Hawai'i's only run came in the sixth when Isaac Omura doubled with one out and scored from second on a wild pitch.

The Rainbows conclude their final homestand with a three-game series against Fresno State starting Thursday.

"They took two out of three from us up there, but we have to take two out of three from them down here," UH catcher Matt Inouye said.

Hawai'i's biggest issue is health. When catcher Creighton Kahoali'i sustained what appears to be a season-ending knee injury on Friday, center fielder Inouye returned to his original position of catcher. That taxed an already spent outfield. With Greg Kish relegated to DH because of an ankle injury, Nate Thurber was pressed into left field after being a DH until Tuesday's game against Hawai'i Pacific.

Also, center fielder Robbie Wilder (hamstring and shoulder) was limited to 2 2/3 innings of defense.

Inouye also had soreness in his left shoulder after getting hit by a pitch Friday. He played all but the last inning of yesterday's game.

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

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