Box Score

FRESNO, Calif. - The No. 24 University of Hawai`i Rainbow baseball team (43-15) fell the No. 21 Fresno State Bulldogs (43-16) 8-4 in the Western Athletic Conference Tournament Championship at Pete Beiden Field Sunday. Tyler Davis (2-2) took the loss for Hawai`i while Brandon Burke (8-5) got the win for Fresno State.

Justin Frash led the Rainbows, going 1-for-3 with a double, a run and a RBI. Matthew Inouye added a 1-for-3 game with a RBI while Jonathan Hee went 1-for-3 with a RBI.

Steve Susdorf opened the scoring, hitting a solo home run for Fresno State in the top of the first inning. But Hawai`i came right back in the bottom of the inning as Frash and Inouye both drove in runs to give the `Bows a 2-1 edge. UH had a chance to add another run on Frash's double, but Derek DuPree was gunned down on a play at the plate.

The Bulldogs came up with a big inning in the top of the fifth, scoring three runs to go up 4-2. Fresno State looked to add to their advantage, loading the bases with just one out. But Darrell Fisherbaugh induced a big, inning-ending double play to keep the Rainbows' deficit at just two runs.

But things unraveled in the top of the sixth. Fresno State scored four runs in the inning, including one on a controversial play at the plate. After arguing with home plate umpire Darrel Mason, UH Head Coach Mike Trapasso was ejected from the game.

Hawai`i continued to fight, scoring two runs in the bottom of the seventh, driven in by Jorge Franco and Hee. But that was all the Rainbows could muster, falling to the Bulldogs by a final score of 8-4.

The `Bows will now await the announcement of the NCAA Regional selections tomorrow at 6:30 a.m. HST. The announcement will be aired on ESPN.

-UH-