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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Friday, April 16, 2010

'Bows get Sisto back for road trip


BY Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Matt Sisto

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Hawai'i will be looking for some answers to its pitching questions when it opens a four-game Western Athletic Conference series today at Sacramento State.

The games will be broadcast live on 1420 ESPN, according to a press release from the station. Game tracking via the Internet is available at www.hawaiiathletics.com, according to a UH press release. Today's game starts at 11 a.m., Hawai'i time.

The Rainbows (17-15 overall, 1-3 WAC) are coming off losing 3 of 4 from Fresno State. For the Hornets (11-17-1), this is their WAC opener.

Matt Sisto, who missed his start against Fresno State last weekend because of a biceps injury, will start the second game of tomorrow's doubleheader.

"We'll send him out like a normal start and let him go as far as he can go," UH coach Mike Trapasso said in a telephone interview from Sacramento, Calif.

The second game of WAC doubleheaders is seven innings.

Josh Slaats starts today's opener and Sam Spangler starts tomorrow's first game of the doubleheader.

Sunday's starter has not been established. Alex Capaul, Zach Gallagher and Nate Klein are options, pending use in previous games.

But Klein, who has pitched one inning of relief since a shoulder injury in the Southern California game March 12, is available. Trapasso said he is the last option to start and that he would be on a 40- to 50-pitch limit because he is still building arm stamina because of the layoff.

Because of the extra pitching on this trip — Klein did not travel the last time to California — the Rainbows brought only five outfielders: Collin Bennett, Matt Roquemore, Sean Montplaisir, Christian Johnson and Chase Koissian.

The redshirt freshman Koissian (.167) was picked over true freshmen Breland Almadova (.118) and Kalani Brackenridge (.143).

"Koissian can play all three outfield positions and he's been swinging the bat well," Trapasso said.

The Rainbows still need to shore up bullpen depth and are looking for progress from Connor Little and Trent Allianic. Trapasso said the midweek non-conference game at Centenary might be their opportunity to get work.

"Both guys need to get more innings," Trapasso said. "But it's all about production."

Sacramento State's probable starters are Robert Butler (1-0,. 4.40) today, Jesse Darrah (2-2, 4.14) in tomorrow's first game and Brandon Creel (2-0. 1.96) in the second game. Its Sunday starter, like UH, has yet to be determined.

Hawai'i catcher David Freitas is from Sacramento.