Box Score

FRESNO, Calif. - The University of Hawai`i Rainbow baseball team (25-9, 3-3 WAC) held on to defeat the No. 21 Fresno State Bulldogs (24-10, 5-2) 5-3 in front of a crowd of 2,065 at Pete Beiden Field Friday. Steven Wright (5-2) struck out 10 in 7.0 innings, giving up an unearned run with four hits, to get the victory. Doug Fister (4-4) took the loss while Darrell Fisherbaugh picked up his seventh save of the year.

The 'Bows picked up their eighth-straight road win, including a 6-0 start to start this sesaon. Robbie Wilder went 3-for-3 with two stolen bases, a run and a RBI. Elijah Christensen added a 2-for-4 game with a run and a RBI. Joseph Spiers went 1-for-4 with a double and a run while Derek DuPree was 1-for-5 with a double, a run and a RBI.

Christensen got UH on the board first, hitting a RBI-single that scored Esteban Lopez in the second inning to put the 'Bows up 1-0. Fresno State came back to tie the game in the fourth on a single by Christian Vitters, and looked primed to take the lead with runners on first and third and just one out. But Jonathan Hee snagged a line drive, starting a double play to end the inning tied at one.

Hawai`i parlayed that momentum into the top of the fifth, as Wilder hit a infield single, scoring Christensen, before Spiers scored on a Bulldog error, making it 3-1.

Fresno State again responded, scoring a run in the bottom of the inning to cut it back to 3-2. But the Rainbows weren't done. In the seventh, DuPree hit a double to deep right, scoring Wilder, before scoring on a sacrifice fly by Justin Frash, pushing the UH advantage to 5-2.

Beau Mills blasted a home run to left field in the eighth. Fresno State then threatened in the bottom of the ninth with runners on second and third with just one out. But Fisherbaugh took control, striking out the final two batters to close the game at 5-3.

The two teams will play tomorrow at 6:30 p.m. in a game that will be nationally televised on CSTV.

-UH-