Posted on: Friday, May 28, 2004

'Bows still have shot at second in WAC

Advertiser Staff

After nine Western Athletic Conference series where winning two of three was good enough, the Hawai'i baseball team must sweep this weekend's series at San Jose State for a chance to finish second in the conference. It is the final regular-season games for both clubs.

Through most of the season, UH coach Mike Trapasso said the team's goal was to win every series, not necessarily having to sweep them. But that has changed after losing 2 of 3 at Nevada last weekend.

The Rainbows (13-13 WAC, 31-21 overall) are in fourth place, eight games behind conference champion Rice, a game behind second-place Fresno State (14-12) and a half-game behind third-place Nevada (14-13).

Hawai'i must sweep and hope that neither Fresno State nor Nevada sweeps each other. It would be better if the Wolf Pack wins the series because if UH sweeps, the Rainbows will have sole possession of second by a half game. Otherwise, if FSU wins 2 of 3, it will be 16-13, the best UH can finish.

Hawai'i is not making up the canceled game with Fresno State from May 15. But Rice is making up a rained out game with Louisiana Tech with a doubleheader tomorrow.

Hawai'i's starting rotation is the same with Ricky Bauer (8-3), Stephen Bryant (8-4) and Clary Carlsen (6-7). The Spartans will start Matt Durkin (7-5), Corey Cabral (6-8) and Jose Amaya (1-6).

Today's game starts at 9:30 a.m., HST, at Municipal Stadium. Tomorrow's and Sunday's games will move to the SJSU campus' Blethen Field. Game times are noon tomorrow and 10 a.m. Sunday. All of the games will be broadcast live on KKEA (AM 1420).

Hawai'i won 2 of 3 at Les Murakami Stadium April 2-4 against San Jose State.

Trapasso had hoped 35 wins would put the Rainbows on the bubble for regional consideration. But UH cannot reach that goal. Hawai'i was not listed among Baseball America Online's regional predictions, which appeared Wednesday.

The 64-team regional field will be announced Monday. ESPN will broadcast the announcements starting at 6 a.m., HST.