Hawaii Sweeps Aztecs

Hawaii’s pitching stayed hot and San Diego State’s hitting stayed cool as the Rainbows swept the Aztecs, 6-4 and 5-2, in a doubleheader Sunday at Smith Field.

SDSU came into the key four-game series averaging more than seven runs per game but dropped three games while scoring a total of 10 runs. The offensive shortage could cost the first-place Aztecs the Western Athletic Conference championship.

SDSU, ranked 21st in the nation, fell to 36-14, 16-6 in the WAC. They lead No. 17 Hawaii (38-11, 15-6) by a half game and must win their final four games next weekend at sixth-place Wyoming to guarantee themselves the regular-season championship. The Rainbows play host to seventh-place Colorado State for four games.

Hawaii won the regular-season title last year, with SDSU finishing second, but the Aztecs beat the Rainbows to win the WAC Tournament. But the only bright spot for SDSU Sunday was Steve Dietz’ two hits that extended his hitting streak to 21 games.

Hawaii was sparked by Scott Craven, who was three for three with three RBIs in the first game and hit a two-run home run that propelled the Rainbows to a four-run second inning. Craven had two more hits in the second game in support of starter and winning pitcher Brady Perreira (10-2). The Aztecs stranded 17 runners between the two games.

The championship game of the Hilltop/Moose Tournament has been rescheduled for Saturday at 11 a.m. at Hilltop High School. It will feature No. 4 USDHS (17-3) vs. No. 8 Poway (14-3).

SOFTBALL

Palomar College has been named the No. 1 seed for the state’s community college Southern Regional tournament. Orange Coast College is No. 2, followed by Long Beach City and Cypress. All will host four-team double-elimination regional tournaments. The Palomar tournament begins Friday when it plays No. 16 Bakerfield at noon. San Diego Mesa and College of the Desert play at 2 p.m. The losers play at 4 p.m. and the respective first-round winners play Saturday at 10 a.m.

Palomar pitcher Kim Ward (27-4, 322 strikeouts in 198 innings) was named the state’s pitcher of the year, and outfielder Tami Fa’agata was named player of the year. Shortstop April Austin was a first team all-state selection.

BEACH VOLLEYBALL

Scott Fortune, captain of the U.S. National team based in San Diego, led Team Ocean Pacific to a 15-8 victory over Team Speedo in the American Beach Volleyball League finals at Lakeshore Towers in Irvine. Ocean Pacific was beaten by Speedo, 15-3, in pool play Saturday.

Top-seeded Karolyn Kirby of La Mesa and Angela Rock of Carlsbad repeated as champions of the Coors Light Phoenix Open with a 15-12 victory over No. 3 Lori Kotas and Gail Castro of San Diego in the final.

Kirby and Rock advanced to the tournament finals with a 15-8 win over the seventh-seeded team of Cammy Ciarelli of Huntington Beach and Nancy Reno of Carlsbad. Ciarelli and Reno, playing in only their third tournament together, finished third.

MEN’S CREW

SDSU captured first place in the 2,000-meter novice eight race and took second in both the novice four and varsity eight events, finishing second in the team standings at the Newport Regatta at North Lido Channel. Orange Coast Community College took first with 22 points to the Aztecs’ 14.