Posted by bozar
on 3/9/2009, 10:33 am
66.167.206.135
Another good day for the WAC with only Nevada’s loss to Washington to mar a perfect day. A lot of offense was featured with some routs included.
Fresno (5-4) 22 - Buffalo (4-5) 4
One of the routs. After one inning it was 7-0 and continued to look like lions at a kill. Lots of bench players got time and produced so Batesole got to see a lot of his players under (very little) pressure. Starter Jake Floethe went 6 innings for the win giving up one run with four SO’s and 1 BB. Hard to lose doing that. The mutts will score runs this year of that there is no doubt. 2080 fans still on the bandwagon.
LaTech (7-3) 10 - Eastern Michigan (3-9) 0
Another rout. These dogs also tore apart the opposition scoring in all but two innings. EM simply got out everythinged in this game (I know that’s not a word). Starter and finisher Dylan Moseley was effective without striking out a lot and simply threw outs. 720 fans.
NMSU (11-1) 12 - Hartford (0-4) 0
Aggies pulled this one out in the bottom of the ninth scoring two runs with one out to win it. Second baseman Mike Sodders (remember this name) is starting to impress me. He hit the walkoff HR for his fifth dinger of the year. He’s batter number nine mind you. Poor Hartford; 19 hits and still lose. Erik Nyquist pitched the last 1 2/3 innings to get the win. He gave up no runs but I’m a little too lazy to see if any he inherited scored which is always a bad thing. 167 fans saw this one under clear and sunny skies. 11-1 and this is all they can scrape up?
Hawaii (6-6) 11 - Mississippi State (8-4) 5
More bulldogs. Bulldogs have little or no tail (no jokes here please) so I think they’re leaving town with what they DO have between their legs. Came in ranked with a heady record and leave town an average team. What happened here? I’m thinking Hawaii is starting to believe in themselves which is frightening considering they will be battling the Spartans for second place if you believe preseason prognosticators (I’ve always wanted to say that). Hawaii has their ace back (previous game starter) and have won these games without him. Mississippi State committed four errors along with six walks and twelve hits. This is not a good mix. Close to alcohol and gasoline. Errors not only cause outs to get on base or those already there to advance to scoring position, they also take the wind out of the sails of whoever is pitching. Youngsters, especially, find it hard to have the maturity to shake errors off and just get their part of the job done. An immediate unearned run in the first inning is a case in point. I can hear the pitcher’s brain now “Uh, oh, here we go again”. Second inning? Error by the catcher and I’ve made my point. Coach is pissed. 2600 had a good time unless it was raining which happens in Hawaii but no biggee.
SacState (2-7) 14 - St. Mary’s (9-3) 2
A much-needed win for the Hornets. Got a lot out of their system I’m sure. The story for this game (unless the box score was off base) was Tim Wheeler. This game was indeed the Tim Wheeler show. This junior is arguably the best player on the team and yesterday showed why. Left-handed hitting outfielder hit three homeruns, scored three (duh!), and had eight rbi’s. That’s EIGHT! 330 witnessed this game.
Washington (6-6) 7 - Nevada (3-8) 4
The only blemish on the WAC’s record was this loss. This one was the Kyle Conley show as he also hit three homeruns to help him get his seven rbi’s. He now has seven homeruns on the season which means he was no stranger to the longball coming in. Starter and loser Chris Garcia gave up five earned runs in 4.1 innings which, I think, is where they lost the game. The Pack got even at three apiece in the bottom of the fourth but Washington scored two when Conley hit one of his homeruns and that was that.
SJSU (9-0) 6 - Pacific (3-7) 3
Wow! 9-0! Ain’t that sweet? In a clean (no errors) game played before 500 folks at the Muni, Scott Sobczak pitched an effective five innings to get the win. I’m wondering if he is still throwing groundballs? There’s someone out there who is reading this that knows. How’s that slider? Is it an out pitch? Anyway, once Scott was out of the game the reliever corps gave up only one run and two hits the rest of the way with Little Anthony and the Imperials Vega getting the save. I’m sorry, I’m not Chris Berman and you’ll never hear that one again. Now that’s good relieving and, yes, I’m biased. Highlights? The friggin’ win, man! What’s up with all this? Timely hitting, great pitching, the gloves are working. Geez! All that with, what, four homeruns? Again Kyle Bellows gets three hits going 3 for 3. He is now hitting .480 (!) to lead the team. Others doing well with the reshaped beer cans are Alex Sofranac (.412) and Corey Valine (.323). Danny Stienstra is hitting .290 but probably only feeling the pressure of trying to improve rather than feeling the pressure of losses because of inability to hit. He’ll improve. The improvement of both Bellows and Sofranac over last year is simply great. Keep - it - up. Pitching is great with the team ERA at a more than respectable 3.00 which is close to 2 runs better than last year which was ok. The two lefties, Berner and Peterson, lead the way at 2.55 and 3.44, respectively and Sobczak has a good ERA at 2.70. Those are three great starters but the boys in blue need a fourth to step up and deal. Vega is turning into a lights out closer with a 1.50 ERA with 8 SO’s and 2 walks. I have no idea on inherited runners scored but I suspect that he’s done well there also. As of now this engine’s roaring on all cylinders. USF and Cal Poly up next. Who will be the starting pitcher for the USF game. I'm curious enough to show up for that game.
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