Box Score

HONOLULU - The University of Hawai`i Rainbow baseball team (11-3) had their seven-game winning streak snapped by the Southern California Trojans (8-7) 4-3 in front of a crowd of 2,626 at the Les Murakami Stadium Sunday. Mark Rodrigues (1-1) took the loss for the 'Bows while Tommy Milone (4-0) got the win for USC. Paul Koss preserved the win for the Trojans, earning his first save of the season.

Jorge Franco led the way for the Rainbows, going 2-for-4 with a triple, one RBI and a run. Jonathan Hee also was 2-for-4 while Luis Avila blasted his first home run of the season. Matthew Daly pitched well in relief, giving up just one hit with three strikeouts in 3.2 innings.

Avila's homer came in the second inning, clearing the wall in right-center to give the Rainbows an early 1-0 edge. USC tied the game in the fourth on a sacrifice fly, then gained a big lead at 4-1 with a three-run fifth inning.

The Rainbows responded with two in the bottom of the fifth as Franco tripled in Kris Sanchez before scoring on a sacrifice fly by Landon Hernandez. The cut the deficit to one run, but that would be all the scoring for the game. UH had one last threat in the ninth when Matthew Inouye doubled to left. But Koss closed the door for USC with a strikeout and a fly out, holding the 4-3 Trojan victory.

The 'Bows will now have one day off before hosting No. 17 Arkansas, Texas-Arlington and Washington for the First Hawaii Title Rainbow Baseball Tournament. The tournament will start with Arkansas and Washington on Tuesday, Feb. 28, at 2:30 p.m., with UH hosting UT-Arlington in the nightcap at 6:35 p.m.

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