Rainbows rally to overcome LaTech, 7-4

Advertiser Staff

With a little bit of luck, Justin Costi might have seven wins to his credit.

The junior right-hander pitched Hawai'i into the seventh inning on a day it was short of pitchers to help the Rainbows rally past Louisiana Tech, 7-4, yesterday at J.C. Love Field in Ruston, La.

"He's been our holder," UH coach Mike Trapasso said. "He just goes out there and holds the game and the (reliever) who comes in gets the win."

It was Costi's fifth no-decision start in which UH eventually won. He is 2-5.

The Rainbows overcame a 3-0 deficit with a pair of two-run home runs from Schafer Magana and Adam Roberts in the sixth. But the Bulldogs tied it against Costi in the seventh, when he was pulled for Rich Olsen with one out after giving up the tying run on an RBI single by Gary Holik.

Costi went 6 1/3 innings, allowing four runs on six hits and a walk with six strikeouts.

Olsen (1-0) pitched 2 2/3 scoreless innings of relief and was the beneficiary of UH's three-run ninth that made the difference.

"Rich Olsen was really good today," Trapasso said. "He had really good tempo."

The 'Bows can post their third consecutive winning season and first in the Western Athletic Conference in Trapasso's fourth season with a win in today's 8 a.m. (Hawai'i time) finale.

Hawai'i (28-27 overall, 15-14 WAC) can tie Fresno State (16-13) for second if the Bulldogs lose to Nevada today.

"I was proud of our guys," Trapasso said. "We came out with energy and toughness. We knew our backs were against the wall, pitching-wise, yet Justin gives us six (innings), then Rich comes in and does a great job."

The Rainbows entered the series without the services of Colby Summer (biceps) and Darrell Fisherbaugh (shoulder), shrinking their staff to seven pitchers. With Friday's starter Stephen Bryant and reliever Steven Wright unavailable having thrown 6 1/3 and 2 2/3 innings, respectively, UH was down to four available pitchers, not counting Costi.

Louisiana Tech took a 3-0 lead in the second inning on a two-out, three-run homer by Richard Heard.

Meanwhile, LaTech starter Matt Lacy cruised through five innings before UH smashed the two home runs to take a 4-3 lead. Lacy struck out 10 in six innings, giving up four runs.

After Tech tied the score in the seventh, UH came up with three in the ninth against relievers Steve Alverson (2-3) and Andrew Alsup.

Derek DuPree led off with an infield single, took second on Joe Spiers' sacrifice and made it to third when Greg Kish reached on catcher Heard's fielding error. After Isaac Omura was intentionally walked, Alsup replaced Alverson.

Esteban Lopez greeted Alsup with an RBI single to break the tie and Magana followed with an RBI single to make it 6-4. After Nate Thurber struck out, Matt Inouye drew a bases-loaded walk to make it 7-4. Alan Knotts replaced Alsup to strike out Roberts to end the inning.

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