Fresno St. moves past UH in WAC
By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer
Although Hawai'i did not pitch, hit and field well in a 7-3 loss to Fresno State in yesterday's Western Athletic Conference home season finale, Rainbows coach Mike Trapasso puts the onus on himself.
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"The minute we have adversity, we go out for a couple of games, we have no faith, no confidence, no belief," Trapasso said. "Whether it's a toughness issue or a confidence issue, I don't know. Whatever it is, it's something that I've been unable to fix or change or do a better job of, so don't put it on them. Put it on me because I've done a (poor) job with this team this year because I can't get 'em to play the same way and keep an even keel."
Fresno State's Nick Moresi slides in safely past Hawai'i catcher Esteban Lopez in the fourth inning of yesterday's Western Athletic Conference game at Les Murakami Stadium. The Bulldogs won, 7-3.
The Rainbows' second consecutive loss happened before 2,063 at Les Murakami Stadium. It dropped UH (25-25 overall, 12-12 WAC) to third place, 3 1/2 games behind first-place Rice (15-8) and one game back of the second-place Bulldogs (27-26, 13-11).
Rice beat Nevada, 16-3, yesterday to take a 2-0 lead in the series and sent the fourth-place Wolf Pack (11-12) four games behind.
Hawai'i started the game off miserably on the mound, as starter Colby Summer (2-5) was tagged for three runs in 1á innings for the quickest hook of the season. He allowed seven hits and struck out three.
"He didn't have velocity, he didn't have command," Trapasso said. "He didn't have it from the get go."
Ricky Bauer didn't fare any better, allowing three runs in 1 2/3 innings.
Darrell Fisherbaugh was the only high note on the mound, going a season-high 5 2/3 innings, allowing an unearned run and five hits.
Offensively, the Rainbows managed only five hits, four against left-handed starter Eddie Romero (6-4), who went 5 1/3 innings, allowing a run on four hits.
"Usually, we crush lefties and this just wasn't working out today," said UH senior designated hitter Nate Thurber, who went 2 for 5 with one RBI.
Four relievers who followed Romero gave up two runs on one hit and three walks.
Hawai'i stranded 11 runners, seven in scoring position.
The Rainbows also committed two errors, one leading to an unearned run.
Fresno State's first three runs came with two outs. Chase Moore's two-run single put FSU up 2-0 in the top of the first inning and Kent Sakamoto's RBI single in the second made it 3-0.
The Rainbows pulled to 3-1 in the third when Isaac Omura flared a double to left, took third on a wild pitch and scored on Thurber's bad-hop single over third.
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But FSU touched Bauer for three in the fourth when Beau Mills singled home one run with another scoring on the same play on right fielder Matt Inouye's errant throw home. Steve Susdorf's sacrifice fly made it 6-1.
Hawai'i pitcher Ricky Bauer signed autographs for fans after yesterday's loss to Fresno State at Les Murakami Stadium. Bauer and four other seniors were honored after playing their final home game.
Hawai'i pulled to 6-2 in the seventh on Greg Kish's sacrifice fly; it was his first appearance since he left a game at Nevada on April 8 after aggravating a rib cage injury.
"It felt good to finally get back in the box again," said Kish, who replaced starting left fielder Erik Ammon, who hurt his ankle when he stepped on a baseball trying to run out a third-strike that wasn't held by the catcher; he was tagged out when he fell.
An error with the bases loaded pulled UH to 6-3 in the eighth.
But FSU added a run in the ninth after two outs. After Susdorf doubled, he scored when Brian Lapin reached on shortstop Joe Spiers' throwing error.
Pending today's Rice-Nevada game, the Rainbows will visit the Owls this weekend either three or four games behind with six to play. Trapasso believes his team can win six in a row. He only questions whether the team believes it can.
"We're still capable of playing every game the rest of the year the way we did during the seven games (of the win streak)," Trapasso said. "I don't understand why they don't seem to believe it. That's all I kept telling them, 'I believe in you guys, but I get the feeling you don't believe in yourselves' because it's been like that all year."
Notes
Former Hawaii Islanders general manager and long-time youth leagues coach Conrad Passas was presented the Chuck Leahey Award for his contributions to baseball in Hawai'i ... Yesterday's telecast might have been the last for KFVE, as the station's contract ends after this season.
Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at skaneshiro@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8042.
