Posted on: Thursday, May 12, 2005
Odds are against 'Bows
By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer
So close, yet so far.
That's how it is for the University of Hawai'i baseball team as it enters the final homestand of the season against Fresno State in a Western Athletic Conference three-game series starting tonight at Les Murakami Stadium.
WHO: Fresno State (25-25 overall, 11-10 WAC) vs. Hawai'i (24-23, 11-10)
WHERE/WHEN: Les Murakami Stadium/today and tomorrow, 6:35 p.m.; Saturday 1:05 p.m. TICKETS: $6 for blue and orange sections; $5 for adults in red sections; $4 for 65-older in red section: $3 for UH students and students ages 4-18 in red section. PARKING: $3 RADIO/TV: KKEA 1420 AM and KFVE channel 5 will broadcast all games live.
UH BASEBALL
PROMOTIONS: Senior Day on Saturday. First 1,500 entering stadium will get a team photo. Chuck Leahey Award will be awarded prior to Saturday's game.
PROBABLE STARTERS: Fresno State vs. Hawai'i
Today, 6:35 p.m.—RH Matt Garza (5-4, 3.14) vs. RH Stephen Bryant (6-3, 3.04)
Tomorrow, 6:35 p.m.—RH Doug Fister (5-5, 4.20) vs. RH Justin Costi (2-4, 3.14)
Saturday, 1:05 p.m.—TBA vs. RH Colby Summer (2-4, 5.15) or RH Ricky Bauer (4-3, 4.82) For UH to earn an NCAA tournament berth, it must win the WAC; with more than 20 losses, an at-large berth is unlikely.
For UH to win the WAC, it essentially must win its remaining nine games, or maybe eight.
"We knew we had to win out regardless of how anybody else did," UH coach Mike Trapasso said. "If anybody's going to beat Rice, one of the three of us that are tied for second is going to have to win out or win at least 7 of 9. But I don't even know if 7 of 9 is going to do it."
The number of teams involved make it harder.
Of the three teams tied for second, only UH and Nevada have games left with the team they're chasing. Fresno State has UH, Louisiana Tech and Nevada left. The Bulldogs could theoretically win all nine games and still fall short of the Owls, if they do the same.
Rice plays at Nevada this weekend; this is the Owls' only road series left in their season.
Hawai'i plays at Rice next weekend and at Louisiana Tech to end the regular season.
But everything's academic if the Rainbows don't take care of business against Fresno State. The Bulldogs swept the Rainbows at FSU earlier this season. Hawai'i scored only nine runs in the series.
Hawai'i will start this series with Stephen Bryant (6-3, 3.04 ERA) against right-hander Matt Garza (5-4, 3.14).
Justin Costi (2-4, 3.14) will be bumped up a day, pitching tomorrow against right-hander Doug Fister (5-5, 4.20). Trapasso said Costi seems to be more effective in night games. Costi picked up his first WAC Pitcher of the Week honor after beating Nevada, 8-0, on April 30, the last time UH played.
Colby Summer (2-4, 5.15) or Ricky Bauer (4-3, 4.82) will start Saturday's home finale. Bauer's start is predicated on whether he is used in relief tonight or tomorrow.
Fresno State has yet to decide on its Saturday pitcher.
Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at skaneshiro@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8042.
The Rainbows (24-23 overall, 11-10 WAC) share second place with the Bulldogs (26-26, 11-10) and Nevada (22-22, 11-10), all two games back of Rice (33-15, 13-8).
WAC BASEBALL
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