Box Score

SURPRISE, Ariz. - The University of Hawai`i Rainbow baseball team (5-4) played the No. 1 Arizona State Sun Devils (5-0) as well as anyone this season, but still fell 3-0 in the Coca-Cola Classic at Billy Parker Field on the Surprise Recreation Campus Friday.

Landon Hernandez led the way for UH, going 2-for-4 with a double. Sean Montplaisir, Jonathan Hee and Brandon Haislet posted the only other hits for the Rainbows.

The Sun Devils pulled ahead in the second inning, scoring an run on a fielding error, giving them a 1-0 advantage. The Rainbows looked like they would be able to tie it up in the top of the third as Derek DuPree hit a deep fly ball to centerfield with Greg Garcia on second base. But ASU centerfielder Mike Jones ran it down and made an amazing over the shoulder catch, keeping UH off the scoreboard.

Hawai`i had another chance to put up some runs in the sixth inning as Haislet and Hee got to second and third base with just one out. But ASU's Reyes Dorado came in and settled the situation, striking out the next two batters to keep the one-run advantage.

UH again had runners at second and third in the seventh with just one out, but ASU was able to throw out Kevin Macdonald at the plate, then induce a ground out to continue to hold the slight 1-0 edge.

The Sun Devils would get to Alexander a bit in the bottom of the seventh, hitting two deep triples that got him out of the game and gave ASU a run, the first earned run given up by Alexander all season. But a great defensive play by Hee, throwing out a runner at the plate, and good relief pitching by Nicholas Rhodes, inducing a a strikeout and a pop up, kept the damage minimal, keeping the score at 2-0.

ASU got three extra-base hits in the bottom of the eighth, but UH's defense again came up big, allowing just one run in the inning. On a double to deep center, the 'Bows were able to throw out the runner coming around from Haislet to Nathan Young to Hernandez.

The Rainbows were able to supply some drama in the bottom of the ninth, loading the bases for Hee. But Hee's hit up the middle was stopped by a diving Marcel Champagnie at shortstop, who flipped the ball to second to force the final out, giving ASU the 3-0 victory.

Hawai`i will play two games tomorrow, first facing No. 8 Michigan at 12 p.m. (9 a.m. HST), then Portland at 4 p.m. (1 p.m. HST), at the Surprise Recreation Campus. The first game will be at Nolan Ryan Field, one of the Texas Rangers' practice fields, with the second on one of the Kansas City Royals' practice fields.

-UH-