Pacific faces Hawai'i after tourney sweep
By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer
The Pacific Tigers might have been picked seventh in the eight-team Big West Conference, but they will arrive here riding a modest four-game win streak when they play Hawai'i in a four-game series starting Thursday at Les Murakami Stadium.
The Tigers (5-2) went 3-0 over the weekend in winning the River City Classic tournament, sponsored by Sacramento State. Pacific has already beaten four future UH opponents: California, Nevada (1 of 3), UC Davis and San Francisco.
The Rainbows (2-2) are coming off a series split against Alabama of the Southeastern Conference in which their pitching staff compiled a 2.75 earned run average with 27 strikeouts to eight walks. Three of their four starters — Ricky Bauer, Colby Summer and Justin Costi — went at least six innings. Relievers Guy McDowell and Rich Olsen combined for seven scoreless innings in two appearances each. Each also notched a save. The only blemish was a blown save opportunity by sophomore Darrell Fisherbaugh, who led UH with six saves last season.
Offensively, the Rainbows scored 14 runs or 3.5 per game with a .226 batting average. Newcomer Luis Avila led the Rainbows with a .417 batting average (5 for 12) with three doubles and three RBIs. Freshman Joe Spiers batted .357 (5 for 14) with a double, triple and 2 of 2 in steal attempts. The rest of the starters batted under .300.
The Big West coaches picked the Tigers to finish seventh. Defending national champion Cal State Fullerton is picked to repeat as conference champions.
The Tigers have two pitchers from Hawai'i in right-handers Davin Nakasone (Pearl City) and Tyler McCready (Iolani). McCready is 1-0 with a 0.82 ERA. He has 11 strikeouts and a walk in 11 innings in two starts. McCready pitched six scoreless innings of four-hit ball with five strikeouts in a 9-0 win against USF on Saturday in the River City Classic.
UH-Hilo/HPU
Hawai'i-Hilo won its first game of the season over the weekend with a doubleheader split against Division II Hawai'i Pacific on Saturday in Hilo.
The Vulcans won the opener, 3-1, behind the combined three-hitter of Ryan Olszewski, Eddie Gutierrez (1-2) and Kyle Neuberger. But the Sea Warriors took the second game, 10-6. Bryan Daguio, Alika Kuraoka and Chase Nakamura each drove in two runs for HPU (5-2).
Sunday's doubleheader was canceled because of rain.
The Vulcans (1-12) will play a five-game series against Nebraska starting Thursday. Singles games will be played at 6 p.m. Thursday and 1 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. A 3 p.m. doubleheader is Friday. All games are at Wong Stadium.
Nebraska was picked to finish fifth in the 10-team Big 12 by Baseball America, but projected to earn one of the league's five NCAA berths.
Hawai'i Pacific will play three noon doubleheaders against Sonoma State Thursday through Saturday at Ke'ehi Lagoon. The Seawolves are 4-1.
Hawai'i nationwide
Pepperdine starter Kea Kometani (Punahou '01) had another strong outing, but lost, 2-1, Friday to Cal Poly (San Luis Obispo). He went six innings, allowing two runs on six hits and two walks with six strikeouts ... San Francisco second baseman Royce Fukuroku (Maui '01) was 3 for 7 with three runs and two steals at the River City Classic at Sacramento State ... Washington State third baseman Zach McAngus (Kamehameha '02) was 7 for 12 with five runs, a double and a steal to help the Cougars take 2 of 3 at Southeastern Louisiana.
Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at skaneshiro@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8042.
