Fresno State sweeps Rainbows, 5-3

Advertiser Staff

Fresno State, which has been hampered by errors all season, was the beneficiary of one that helped the Bulldogs beat Hawai'i, 5-3, yesterday to complete a Western Athletic Conference series sweep at Beiden Field in Fresno, Calif.

The Rainbows (13-16 overall, 1-5 WAC) return home today having gone 0-4 on the road trip, extending their losing streak to six and falling into sole possession of last place in the conference at just a little past the halfway point of the 56-game season.

The Bulldogs (17-15, 3-0) committed four errors that accounted for the three UH runs. They lead the league with 61 errors. But the Rainbows, whose .967 fielding percentage was second-best in the league entering yesterday's game, committed two that led to two runs, including the go-ahead run.

Justin Costi (1-3) gave up five runs — two unearned — on nine hits and three walks with four strikeouts in 6¡ innings for UH. Doug Fister (4-2) allowed three runs — all unearned — on four hits and three walks with seven strikeouts in seven innings. Ryan Penn and Rudy Quinones each pitched a scoreless inning of relief with the latter picking up his first save.

With the score tied at 3 in the bottom of the seventh, Nick Moresi walked with one out and made it to third after a strong throw from right fielder Matt Inouye almost nailed him after a Beau Mills' single. David Gomez, who squeezed home two runs on the same play the night before, missed on a bunt attempt for a strike, leaving Moresi vulnerable between third and home. But catcher Erik Ammon's throw to third sailed into left field, allowing Moresi to score and Mills to take second. Mills scored when Gomez lined the next pitch into center for a single to put FSU up 5-3. Costi was replaced by Darrell Fisherbaugh, who retired all five batters he faced.

But the recurring theme of the season is UH's inability to score more. The Rainbows, who had four hits yesterday, scored eight runs in the four road games. Their cap was three, which is what they scored in each of the losses to FSU.

Consecutive errors by second baseman DeAndre Miller and a walk loaded the bases with one out to set up Schafer Magana's two-run single in the fourth that put UH ahead 2-0. But the Bulldogs tied it in the bottom of the frame with a two-run double by Kent Sakamoto.

In the fifth, a two-out fielding error by shortstop Christian Vitters allowed Joe Spiers to reach first. After taking second on Ammon's single, Spiers scored on Isaac Omura's single to left to put UH ahead 3-2.

But the Rainbows squandered a golden opportunity in the top of the seventh. Greg Kish led off with a walk and Derek Dupree beat out an infield single to the left side. Both advanced on Spiers' sacrifice. But Fister struck out Ammon, intentionally walked Omura, then struck out Inouye to end the threat.

"You hit .262 as a team, you're going to have a hard time winning games," UH coach Mike Trapasso said.

If there was a bright spot, it was Costi's outing. Trapasso was concerned that Costi's style of pitching (off-speed oriented) was not a good match against FSU's hitting approach. But he was able to locate his fastball.

"It might have been the best he's thrown all year," Trapasso said. "He was sharp with his pitches today. Going into the game, I did not see him as a real good fit against the Fresno hitters. But he was just outstanding. He had the best fastball command he's had all year. He had good stuff today. We just couldn't help him out."

The Rainbows continue WAC play with a three-game home series against San Jose State (5-1) starting Friday. The Spartans swept Rice and won 2 of 3 from Louisiana Tech over the weekend.

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