Rainbow baseball team closes out Spartans, 3-2

By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer

There was no deja vu for the Rainbows' bullpen.

Hawai'i's Matt Inouye is congratulated after scoring in the second inning against San Jose State at Les Murakami Stadium. Andrew Shimabuku • The Honolulu Advertiser

In the process, the Rainbows (15-17 overall, 3-6 WAC) not only won consecutive games for the first time since the sweep of Florida State last month, but kept the first-place Spartans (16-11-1, 6-3) from pulling from the pack. Only three games separate SJSU from last-place UH and Louisiana Tech in the six-team conference.

"I felt this was a huge series for us, especially playing the first-place WAC team, to win a couple games and to really get us on a roll going up to Reno" said UH right fielder Greg Kish, referring to the team's next conference series at Nevada this weekend.

With two outs, Anthony Contreras grounded a double down the right-field line on an 0-2 pitch from Fisherbaugh, who then walked Nate Corrick on four pitches, prompting a visit from UH coach Mike Trapasso.

"Sometimes, you just say, 'Hey, it's your game.' " Trapasso said he told Fisherbaugh. "I told him to take a breath, get your focus back and understand you only need one out and stay aggressive."

After a first-pitch strike to Chris Williamee, Fisherbaugh threw four successive balls to load the bases.

With the bullpen disaster of three weeks ago in a 9-6 loss to Louisiana Tech on the minds of 1,022 at Les Murakami Stadium, Fisherbaugh got Brandon Fromm to ground out to second on a changeup to end the game.

"I try not to remember the LaTech (game), but it's still on your mind," said Fisherbaugh (2-1), who allowed two hits and two walks in 2¡ scoreless innings. "But you can't let it get to you. You still have to bounce back."

"Our focus and mentality hasn't changed," added UH second baseman Isaac Omura. "We believe in each one of us and we knew Fish could get the job done, get us a ground ball."

The Spartans overcame a 2-0 deficit with a two-out, two-run single by Daniel Fitch in the sixth against UH starter Justin Costi. But UH regained the lead in the seventh on a hit-and-run, opposite-field double to left by Isaac Omura (2 for 3) off Daniel Crombie (1-2) that scored Kish, who singled with one out.

Hawai'i took a 1-0 lead in the second. Matt Inouye singled to third, Nate Thurber walked and both advanced on Schafer Magana's sacrifice. After Luis Avila struck out, Esteban Lopez walked to load the bases and set up Joe Spiers' RBI single to right. Spiers was 3 for 4.

The Rainbows added a run in the fifth. Spiers led off with a single, took second on Kish's sacrifice and moved to third when Omura grounded out to second. Rocky Russo (2 for 4) lined a double to left to drive in Spiers.

Costi gave the Rainbows 5á innings, allowing two runs on six hits and a walk with three strikeouts. He pitched out of jams in each of the first four innings, stranding runners in scoring position each time. After a perfect fifth, he got in trouble in the sixth. With two outs and runners at second and third, he threw six consecutive fastballs resulting in a full count before Fitch lined a changeup for a two-run single that tied the game. After giving up another single, he was lifted for Rich Olsen, who added an inning of scoreless relief before giving way to Fisherbaugh with two outs in the bottom of the seventh. Although Costi was left with a no decision, he knew the outcome was all that mattered.

"We needed this (win) bad," he said. "Hopefully, we can keep it rolling."

It's still early in the conference season, but there was a sense of urgency for UH to win the series against the Spartans. And the consecutive victories came after UH had dropped seven in a row.

"To come out and win a series against a very good team — it's the first-place team in our league — it's huge," Trapasso said. "Like every other series, now you gotta go out and repeat it. We have to continue to play this way the rest of the way."

UH leaves tomorrow for a single game at San Francisco (20-9) on Wednesday at noon (HST) before going to Nevada (15-10, 4-2). Hawai'i was 1-2 last season after losing 10 in a row over four seasons at Nevada's Peccole Park.

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