Warriors pound Pack in WAC tournament
Nevada pitcher Kyle Howe struggled, while Hawaii continued its domination of the Wolf Pack on Friday by winning 14-5 in the second round of the Western Athletic Conference tournament in Ruston, La.
Howe pitched his worst effort of the season, surrendering six earned runs in one inning pitched. His previous worst start came April 19 when he allowed six runs in two innings pitched—also against Hawaii.
Nevada was forced to dip into its bullpen for seven innings, relieving Howe with Derek Achelpohl (2 INP, 4 ER), Stephen Bautista (1 INP, 0 ER), Jacob Kaup (1 INP, 1 ER) and Bryan Suarez (2 INP, 2 ER). Lack of pitching may become a factor for Nevada because of the heat in Ruston, La. The humidity was 90 percent for Friday night’s game and the temperature for Saturday’s game is predicted to be more than 90 degrees. Scattered showers and thunderstorms are also predicted.
Matt Bowman and Mike Hale were the only Wolf Pack players with a multiple-hit game. Bowman was three for three with two walks and one run. Hale went two for five with one run.
It was Hawaii’s fourth win in five games against the Wolf Pack this season. The Rainbow Warriors have outscored Nevada 45-16 in five games this year and continued bludgeoning Wolf Pack pitching Friday, accumulating 22 hits and hitting three home runs. Hawaii failed to score in the fifth and sixth inning, but tallied at least one run in every other inning—including an 11-3 lead after the fourth. The Warriors added three more runs in the final two innings.
The closest Nevada got, after Hawaii jumped to an 8-1 lead, was when David Ciarlo scored on a Jason Rodriguez ground out. Ciarlo’s run pulled Nevada within five at 8-3, but the Warriors outscored the Wolf Pack 6-2 the rest of the way.
Josh Schneider pitched solid for Hawaii, but allowed 12 hits and walked two in seven innings pitched. Schneider only allowed five runs, though, partly in part to Nevada stranding 11 base runners.
The loss brought Hawaii to 29-29 on the season, but dropped the Wolf Pack to 32-25. It also moved Nevada into the loser’s bracket of the six-team double-elimination tournament. The Wolf Pack will battle Sacramento State on Saturday at 1 p.m, streamed live on ESPN Radio 630 AM. Nevada won the season series with Sacramento State three games to one, but all games were at Peccole Park.
If Nevada wins, it will then play the loser of Fresno State and Hawaii on Saturday night.
San Jose State and New Mexico State, the only other teams involved in the tournament, were eliminated on Friday.
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