Box Score

HONOLULU - The University of Hawai`i Rainbow baseball team defeated the Alabama Crimson Tide 4-1 in the 2005 season-opener in front of a crowd of 2,611 at the Les Murakami Stadium Thursday. Ricky Bauer went 7.0 innings, giving up just six hits and one run while striking out three with no walks, to get his first win. Wade LeBlanc took the loss for the Tide while Guy McDowell got the save for UH, pitching two scoreless innings.

Gregory Kish led the way for the 'Bows, going 2-for-3 with three RBI, a double and a stolen base. Freshman Joseph Spiers added a 1-for-2 game with two runs, two walks and a stolen base.

The Rainbows jumped out early in the third inning, as Kish hit a two-run double down the right line, scoring Daniel Magana and Spiers, to make it 2-0. Kish later scored on a sacrifice by Adam Roberts to make it 3-0 after the third.

Kish then again drove in Spiers in the fifth to push the UH lead to 4-0. That would be more than enough for Bauer, who faced only 26 batters in seven innings, facing the minimum in four innings pitched.

Bama got their lone run in the sixth as Evan Bush drove in Emeel Salem on a ground out. But the combination of Bauer and McDowell put the Tide away late in the game, giving Hawai`i the 4-1 victory.

The two teams will play again tomorrow at 6:35 p.m. at the Les Murakami Stadium. UH is scheduled to pitch Stephen Bryant against UA's Brandon Belcher.

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