Rice shuts out UH, 4-0
By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer
Eddie Degerman couldn't fit into UC Irvine's plans, but he certainly found a home at Rice.
The junior over-the-top-throwing right-hander fired a four-hitter to lead the nationally ranked Owls over Hawai'i, 4-0, last night to even the Western Athletic Conference series at 1.
The loss dropped the Rainbows (18-21 overall, 5-9 WAC) into sixth place, as Louisiana Tech (6-8) moved into fifth with its 5-2 win against Fresno State. It happened in front of 3,010, the largest crowd of the season at Les Murakami Stadium.
The Owls (25-13, 7-7) moved into third as FSU dropped to 5-6.
It was the third consecutive game the Rainbows had five or fewer hits after having double digits in five games, four on the last road trip. Hawai'i managed three hits in its 3-2 win Friday.
"Seven hits in two days, you've got to feel good that you won one," UH coach Mike Trapasso said. "We just have to be better, come out tomorrow and try to win the series."
Degerman (5-0) walked five in tossing the first complete game of his collegiate career. But he fought out of jams with three double plays.
The biggest strikeout of his seven came in the third when the Rainbows loaded the bases with one out and their most dangerous hitter at the plate in Isaac Omura. Degerman ran a full count and used a curve to get Omura swinging for the second out. Degerman then got Nate Thurber to fly out to center to end the threat.
"He caught me off-balance with his curveball all day," Omura said. "That one fell out of the zone. It was a bad pitch to go after."
While Degerman was able to limit the hits allowed, he struggled with his control, walking five. But the double plays saved him.
In the first, UH had first and third with one out, but Thurber grounded to third for an inning-ending double play. The Rainbows had first and second with one out in the fifth when Adam Roberts grounded to short for a double play. Degerman walked Erik Ammon to start the eighth, but got Joe Spiers to ground to short for another double play.
Degerman, who is from Granada Hills, Calif., transferred from UC Irvine after the 2003 season to Rice because he never got to play.
It was another hard luck loss for UH starter Colby Summer (1-4), who hasn't won since Feb. 12 in a 3-2 win against Alabama. He allowed four runs — three earned — on seven hits with four strikeouts in 6á innings.
"It's been about six weeks in a row where my best wasn't good enough," Summer said.
"Colby pitched very well," Trapasso said. "He didn't get any support and we got beat. We couldn't make anything of the limited opportunities we had. We were real anemic offensively. Credit Degerman. We've seen this before with our offense."
The Owls took a 1-0 lead in the second when Joe Savery reached first on a fielding error by first baseman Luis Avila. An out later, he stole second when Adam Hale struck out swinging and scored on Lance Pendleton's single to center.
Adam Rodgers made it 2-0 when he drilled a fastball down the middle on a 3-1 count to left for his fourth home run. He also had an RBI double in the sixth that made it 3-0.
The Owls ended Summer's night with two outs in the seventh, when Tyler Henley doubled and scored on Greg Buchanan's single to left that made it 4-0.
The Rainbows were without outfielder Derek Dupree. Trapasso said he had the flu or food poisoning. "He was sick (Friday), too, but he was able to go," Trapasso said. "But it was worse today."
The series concludes today at 1:05 p.m. Justin Costi will pitch for UH against Savery, who has played first base the first two games of this series.
Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at skaneshiro@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8042.
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