Baseball Rainbows beat Louisiana Tech, 8-4
Advertiser Staff
Vinnie Catricala batted 3 for 4 with two RBI to help Hawai'i hold off Louisiana Tech, 8-4, today in the first game of a Western Athletic Conference doubleheader at J.C. Love Field in Ruston, La.
Josh Schneider (3-2) went 4 2/3 innings of relief, allowing a run and four hits with four strikeouts for the Rainbows (21-22 overall, 13-9 WAC). Matt Daly inherited runners at first and second with no outs in the bottom of the ninth, retiring the first two batters before walking one to load the bases, bringing the tying run to the plate, but struck out Clay Alexander to end the game for his second save.
Hawai'i starter Nick Rhodes went 3 1/3 innings before leaving after giving up three consecutive home runs in the fourth inning.
Jericho Jones (5-4) allowed eight runs, 13 hits and two walks with four strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings for the Bulldogs (16-24, 2-18).
HawaiOEi got on the board in the first inning for the second consecutive game. With two outs, Jon Hee walked, took second on Brandon Haislet's single to short and both scored on Jeff Van Doornumıs double to right to give UH a 2-0 lead.
The Rainbows added two in the third, again scoring with two outs. Haislet singled with one out and after Van Doornum flied out to right, scored on Kevin Macdonaldıs double. Catricala singled to score Macdonald to make it 4-0.
Hawai'i kept it going in the fourth. Landon Hernandez led off the frame with a single and took second on a fielding error by the left fielder. Hernandez scored on Sean Montplaisirıs double to right-center. An out later, Monplaisir scored on Hee's single to right to make it 6-0.
The Bulldogs struck back in the fourth when Alexander, Jones and Albie Goulder hit successive home runs all to right field to pull to 6-3 and chase Rhodes after 3 1/3 innings.
Catricala's solo home run in the top of the fifth increased UHıs lead to 7-3.
Hawai'i got a gift run in the sixth. With outs, Hee singled and took third Haislet's double to left. On the play, Hee scored and Haislet took third on the left fielder's fielding error to make it 8-3.
The Bulldogs got one back in the bottom of the sixth. Jones singled, one out later took second on a wild pitch, and after Chris Kersten struck out, scored on Kevin Winn's single to make it 8-4.
