Posted on: Friday, May 27, 2005
Rainbows can finish with winning record
By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer
Hawai'i might be out two pitchers and out of the Western Athletic Conference title chase, but it is definitely not down.
The Rainbows (26-27 overall, 13-14 WAC) will close out their season with a three-game series at Louisiana Tech (13-37, 9-18) starting today. The Bulldogs took two of three at UH to start the WAC season.
"There's a lot to play for," UH coach Mike Trapasso said. "The reality is we started ourselves on our slide because we gave 'em the series at our place. We need some payback and our guys realize that. It's the last series for a lot of guys. The last college baseball they'll ever play."
In their previous meeting, the Rainbows squandered a 6-3 lead by giving up six runs in the top of the ninth.
A UH sweep would give the Rainbows their third consecutive winning season under Trapasso. It also would allow UH to share second place with Fresno State should the Bulldogs get swept by Nevada.
Hawai'i' is tied for third with San Jose State, both five games behind first-place Rice. The Owls need either a win or a Fresno State loss this weekend to clinch the WAC title. If the two finish with the same record, Rice won the season series for the tie-breaker for the postseason tournament bid that goes to the league champion. Otherwise, second-place Fresno State (16-11) must sweep at Nevada and hope that San Jose State sweeps Rice for the Bulldogs to win the WAC.
The Rainbows will likely be without the services of closer Darrell Fisherbaugh and starter Colby Summer, Trapasso said. Fisherbaugh has some tendinitis on the back of his right (throwing) shoulder he sustained in Sunday's game at Rice.
"It's better today than it was yesterday, so we'll see how it feels when we get to Saturday or Sunday," Trapasso said of Fisherbaugh.
Summer, who has been the Sunday starter most of the season, has been experiencing some tenderness in his right (throwing arm) biceps.
"He took himself out of the game (on Sunday)," Trapasso said. "Now that we're out of the race, he wants to hold off for now."
Everyone else appears healthy for the series in Ruston, La.
Four-time WAC Pitcher of the Week Stephen Bryant (8-3, 3.01 ERA) will start today's game at 1 p.m., HST, against Ryan Rupert (3-6, 4.85). Both are right-handers.
Tomorrow's 10 a.m., HST, start will pit UH's Justin Costi (2-5, 3.66) against Matt Lacy (1-1. 6.10) in a battle of right-handers.
Louisiana Tech will start right-hander Clayton Meyer (4-9, 4.85), while UH has yet to decide on a starter for Sunday's game at 8 a.m., HST.
"Sunday's pitcher is whoever's left standing after Friday and Saturday," Trapasso said.
Hawai'i's only win against Louisiana Tech was by Steven Wright in an 8-6 win. He pitched eight innings, allowing six runs on 10 hits and a walk with 11 strikeouts. He made one more start in a loss at Fresno State before returning to the bullpen, where he has been highly effective.
Meanwhile, Rice's Joe Savery (.390) still leads UH's Isaac Omura (.379) in the WAC batting title race. San Jose State's Anthony Contreras is creeping up at .376.
Also, UH's Joe Spiers' 31 stolen bases is way ahead of the 14 by San Jose State's Ryan Angel.
Rainbows' catcher Esteban Lopez is batting .318 in WAC games, lifting his overall average to .241 after a slow start in nonconference games.
This series will be the final collegiate games for five UH players. Pitchers Ricky Bauer, Bryant and Summer, and outfielder Nate Thurber and third baseman Schafer Magana are all seniors.
All of the games will be broadcast live on KKEA (1420 AM).
Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at skaneshiro@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8042.
