HONOLULU - The University of Hawai`i Rainbow baseball team (6-2) came back from a 10-2 deficit in the sixth inning to beat Hawai`i Pacific (6-7), 11-10, in 10 innings at Les Murakami Stadium Tuesday. Freshman
Matthew Daly pitched 3.0 innings with no runs, two hits and three strikeouts to get the win while Michael Kealoha took the loss for HPU.
Jonathan Hee came up with the game-winning hit for UH, whacking an RBI-single down the first base line, scoring Robbie Wilder from second to win the game with two outs in the 10th inning. Hee went 3-for-6 on the night with a run and two RBI while Wilder was 4-for-5 with one RBI, a double and four runs.
Luis Avila added a 2-for-4 game with three RBI, two runs, a double and a triple while Justin Frash, Adam Roberts, Landon Hernandez and Derek DuPree also had two-hit games.
HPU came out on fire, scoring two runs in the first, three in the second and one in the third, while UH had just one run in the first on an RBI-single by Frash, putting the Sea Warriors ahead 6-1.
The Rainbows got another run in the fourth as DuPree drove in Hernandez, cutting it back to 6-2. But HPU seemingly put it out of reach in the top of the sixth, scoring four runs to push the score to 10-2.
Hawai`i looked to answer in the bottom of the sixth as Ryan Asato scored on a base-loaded walk. But UH left the bases loaded as Hee grounded into a fielder's choice, leaving UH behind 10-3.
UH scored again in the seventh on a sacrifice fly by Asato. But it was the eighth inning where the 'Bows finally got back into the game. Hee started the scoring in the eighth with an RBI-single. Avila then hit a two-run triple before scoring on a single by Roberts, cutting the deficit to 10-8. Hawai`i again loaded the bases, but Kealoha, who was playing second base at the time, made a great, diving play, taking a hit away from DuPree and holding the 'Bows without another run.
After Daly pitched a one-two-three inning in the top of the ninth, Hawai`i went back to work on offense. Hee hit a bunt single that led to a throwing error by Kealoha, who had moved in to pitch, allowing another UH run. Avila then hit a sacrifice fly to tie it at 10. But Hawai`i then squandered a bases-loaded, one-out opportunity to win it in the ninth.
After allowing HPU runners to get on the corners in the top of the 10th, Daly settled down and struck out the final batter he faced, keeping the Sea Warriors off the board. That set up Wilder and Hee's heroics in the bottom of the 10th, giving the Rainbows the improbable 11-10 victory.
Hawai`i now heads on the road for a three-game series at Loyola Marymount Feb. 16, 17, and 18.
Box Score-UH-
