Box Score

HONOLULU – Steven Wright pitched a one-hitter through five complete innings and the Rainbows scored nine runs in the third inning to trounce Chicago State, 14-0, in the semifinals of the First Hawai'i Title Rainbow Baseball Tournament Friday night at Les Murakami Stadium.

A crowd of 2,376 saw Hawai'i (13-7) get things started early with three runs in the first off singles from Jaziel Mendoza and Andrew Sandsaver and Nathan Thurber. Chicago State starter Ravell Moss struggled with balks that advanced four Rainbow base runners in the inning. Sandsaver finished the game 3-for-3 with three RBI.

The Rainbows added a run in the second when Robbie Wilder singled, stole second, advanced to third on a fly ball by Brian Finegan, and scored off Greg Kish's single to centerfield.

And then the Rainbows erupted for nine runs in the third. Mendoza got the party started with a walk and scored on a single by Sandsaver. The remaining eight runs were scored with two outs in the inning that ended with six hits, an error and two runners left. The Cougars tried to neutralize the effort with relief pitching from Luis Reynoso, but to no avail.

Moss finished the game with 10 runs, all earned, nine hits, four walks, and two called balks. Reynoso pitched three and one-third and gave up four runs, all earned, four hits and three walks with one strikeout.

It was the second time in the tournament the Rainbows defeated the Cougars enforcing the tournament's 10-rule having done so with a 12-1 victory on Tuesday.

Hawai'i will play No. 20 Oregon State for the tournament title Saturday night. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. Chicago State will square of against the Citadel for the consolation championship at 2 p.m.

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