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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Sunday, February 25, 2007

UH-WSU will try for two today

By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer

Fans at Les Murakami Stadium patiently waited out the rain in Manoa, but there would be no game last night.

ANDREW SHIMABUKU | The Honolulu Advertiser

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Last night's baseball game between Hawai'i and No. 12 Wichita State was postponed because of unplayable conditions caused by rain.

The game will be made up as part of a doubleheader starting at 10 a.m. today at Les Murakami Stadium. Both games are scheduled for nine innings. There is a contingency that the second game might be shorter depending the length of the first game, the coaches said.

"This field doesn't drain the way it used to," said Wichita State coach Gene Stephenson, who knows Murakami Stadium as well as anyone, having brought teams here 16 times since 1980.

The Shockers also are pressed for time because they are scheduled to leave on an American Airlines flight at 6:55 p.m. Stephenson said it's likely no inning can start after 4:15 p.m.

Last night's game was called at about 7:30 p.m.

At the time, it was just drizzling and even stopped soon after. UH coach Mike Trapasso said that even after prepping the field, the earliest the game could have started was 8:15 or 8:30 p.m He added that more rain was in the forecast. The National Weather Service issued a flood advisory through 9:30 last night and included the Manoa area.

Both coaches said they will use their scheduled starting pitchers for the doubleheader. UH will start left-hander Mark Rodrigues and right-hander Joshua Schneider, while WSU will counter with right-hander Aaron Shafer and right-hander Travis Banwart.

Spectators with ticket stubs from last night's rainout will be allowed to use them for admission today. But for the second game, those who purchased tickets specifically for today will have priority of that seat for the second game.

Trapasso said a new surface will be installed by next season, but could not say when that might happen.

One of the issues with the present turf, besides that it is literally coming apart at the seams, is poor drainage. Despite having the dirt areas — home plate and the bases — covered by tarps, water still seeps through, making it muddy and unplayable.

Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at skaneshiro@honoluluadvertiser.com.