Second verse, same as the first.
For the second night in a row, San Francisco defeated the Hawaii baseball team 3-1 in 11 innings at Les Murakami Stadium.
But on this Friday night, the Rainbow Warriors squandered a bases-loaded opportunity in the ninth, then lost its cool — and coach Mike Trapasso — in the top of the 11th, when the Dons produced the deciding two runs.
It was a disappointing setback for the ’Bows, who have scored three runs in the past 33 innings, in falling to 1-4. The Dons, who won the first two games of this four-game series, improved to 5-1. The teams meet at 1:05 p.m. today.
USF shortstop Nico Giarratano, who homered in the sixth, opened the 11th with a drive off the right-field wall for a double. First baseman Ross Puskarich then hit a grounder to second, but Johnny Weeks’ throw pulled first baseman Eric Ramirez off the bag, placing Dons at the corners.
Allen Smoot lined a hit to left, scoring Giarratano with the go-ahead run. Pinch runner Tyler Villaroman replaced Puskarich at second. Dominic Miroglio grounded out to second, advancing Villaroman to third and Smoot to second. Michael Perri then grounded to Ramirez, who threw home. Umpire Angel Campos ruled that Villaroman evaded catcher Kekai Rios’ attempted tag.
Trapasso raced onto the field, vehemently arguing with Campos before being ejected.
The ’Bows could not manage a comeback in the bottom of the 11th.
With the ’Bows trailing 1-0 entering the ninth, Adam Fogel doubled off the wall in left-center, but appeared to injure his hamstring as he hobbled to second base. Pinch runner Marcus Doi replaced Fogel.
Then pinch hitter Ethan Lopez lined a single to right to score Doi with the tying run.
Alex Fitchett put down a full-count bunt. Smoot, the third baseman, fielded the ball, but threw too late to second to get Lopez. Dustin Demeter’s sacrifice advanced Lopez and Fitchett. Dylan Vchulek was walked intentionally to load the bases. But Weeks grounded into a double play to force extra innings for the second night in a row.
Giarratano, the son of USF coach Nino Giarratano, had powered a homer to left in the sixth to boost San Francisco to a 1-0 lead.
The ’Bows could not provide any run support for starting pitcher Dominic DeMiero, who pitched eight innings. DeMiero threw 99 pitches — 73 for strikes. He threw first-pitch strikes to 22 of the 31 batters he faced.
But DeMiero, who has UH’s only victory this season, was replaced at the start of the ninth. Kyle Mitchell pitched the final three innings, allowing two hits and two runs. Only one of the runs was earned.
Thomas Ponticelli also pitched eight innings for the Dons, allowing four hits and striking out eight.
Benji Post, the third San Francisco pitcher, did not allow a run in three innings for the victory.