Hawai'i Pitching Stifles Oregon

Friday, February 26

Honolulu, Hawaii

8:35 PM

University of Oregon

3-3

Hawaii

3-3

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Oregon	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	4	1
Hawaii	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	X	2	7	2

Photo by: Eric Evans/GoDucks.com

02/27/10 | Baseball

Box Score

By: GoDucks.com

HONOLULU – Another solid effort on the mound from the Hawai'i pitching staff puzzled Oregon's batters as the Ducks were limited to a season-low four hits in a 2-1 Rainbows victory on Friday night at Les Murakami Stadium.

The Ducks have now lost two in a row, and fall to 3-3 on the season. Hawai'i, who opens the series with two impressive wins, also now evens its record at 3-3.

The Ducks went into the top of the ninth trailing 2-1, but things looked promising as freshman Ryan Hambright singled off Hawai'i closer Lenny Linsky to lead off the inning. Jett Hart came on to pinch run, and Eddie Rodriguez executed the sacrifice bunt to move Hart into scoring position. But freshman Steven Packard grounded out to third and Danny Pulfer sent one right back to Linsky, who made the play to first for his second save of the series and season.

Linsky pitched the final two innings of UH's Thursday night win, holding the Ducks scoreless and striking out three.
Trailing by a run in the sixth, Oregon had another great opportunity to tie the game as Jack Marder kept the inning alive with a stand-up, two-out double off the wall in left. Hawai'i starter Matt Sisto then walked Hambright to put two runners on, but Rodriguez sent his shot back to Garcia at shortstop, and his toss to Wong at second erased Hambright and ended the inning.

Sisto improved to 1-1 on the year, pitching six innings and holding the Ducks to one run on three hits and three walks. Alex Capaul pitched two innings of relief, holding Oregon hitless and facing only one batter over the minimum, before Linsky came on in the ninth for the save.

Hawai'i leadoff batter Breland Almadova got things going right away for the Rainbows, hammering a solo homer over the right field wall on a 2-2 count to lead off the bottom on the first off Oregon starter Justin LaTempa.

Oregon then tied the game in the third with two outs on the board. After the first two batters of the inning flew out to right, Curtis Rauliniatis was walked. Sisto then came off the mound to field KC Serna's infield chopper, but Sisto threw it away into no man's land allowing Raulinaitis to score all the way from first.

Hawai'i retook the lead in the bottom of the third as Sean Montplaisir singled up the middle with one out. A gutsy call by the UH coaching staff had produce Almadova with the sacrifice bunt moving Montplaisir to second with two outs. But the move proved fruitful as Garcia drove a two-out, one run double past a diving Jack Marder in right center to put the 'Bows up 2-1.

LaTempa (0-1) took the loss for Oregon tossing six innings, and allowing two runs on six and two walks. He faced 26 batters and struck out six. Ryan Fleckenstein and Joey Housey both appeared in relief.

All four Oregon hits came from true freshmen: Hambright (2), Marder and Altobelli.

Oregon and Hawai'i will play the third game of the series from Honolulu at 1:05 pm HT (3:05 p.m. PT).

Notes: Freshman Steven Packard (San Marcos, Calif.) received his first start of the season at designated hitter and in the sixth spot of the order…Oregon's four hits were its lowest total of the season and the Ducks lost two in a row for the first time this year.