Box Score

RUSTON, La. - The University of Hawai`i Rainbow baseball team (18-19, 1-13 WAC) fell to the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs (12-21-1, 5-9 WAC) 7-6 in front of a crowd of 629 at J.C. Love Field. Ricky Bauer (2-3) gave up just one earned run while striking out six in 5.1 innings of work, but picked up the loss for UH. Adam Kirkendall (3-6) got the win for the Bulldogs while Matt Varner got the save.

Timothy Montgomery led the way, going 2-for-5 with two home runs and three RBI. Brent Cook added a 2-for-4 day with a double, one RBI and one run, while Andrew Sansaver added a 2-for-5 day. Freshman Matthew Inouye hit the first home run of his career, finishing with two RBI and two runs. Justin Cayetano pitched well in relief, going 2.2 innings, giving up no hits and no runs while striking out five.

The Rainbows jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the fourth inning as Montgomery hit his second home run in as many days, a two-run shot over the right-center field wall. But the Bulldogs would come right back in the bottom of the inning, scoring five unearned runs, including a three-run homer by Kyle Humphreys.

Hawai`i got another run in the fifth inning when Cook drove in Brian Finegan to cut the lead to 5-3. Louisiana Tech would score two more runs in the sixth inning, getting their lead up to four runs.

But the Rainbows wouldn't go away, as Inouye and Montgomery hit back-to-back homers in the top of the eighth, cutting the deficit back down to 7-5.

UH would threaten in the top of the ninth, as they had runners on the corners with one out and Inouye at the plate. Inouye hit a ball to right-center field that Bulldog centerfielder Antonio Sabatini pulled back from over the wall, allowing Inouye to drive in just one run, instead of three, preserving the Louisiana Tech win, 7-6.

The two teams will close out their series tomorrow with a 1 p.m. game at J.C. Love Field. Christopher George (4-5) will get the start for Hawai`i.

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