Box Score

RUSTON, La. - The University of Hawai`i Rainbow baseball team (37-12, 14-6 WAC) came from behind to defeat the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs (28-22, 9-12) 7-6 in the second game of the double-header, completing the sweep at J.C. Love Field. Matthew Daly (6-0) got the win, allowing just one hit and one walk in 2.0 innings while recording four strikeouts. Andrew Alsup (3-1) took the loss.

Robbie Wilder came up big, going 4-for-5 with a run. Elijah Christensen was 2-for-4 with a run, a double and two RBI, including the game-winner. Matthew Inouye added a 3-for-5 game with two doubles, a stolen base, one RBI and two runs. Luis Avila was 2-for-5 with a home runs while Jonathan Hee also went 2-for-5 with a run and a RBI.

Tech again took an early lead, scoring a run in the bottom of the first. Hawai`i didn't stay behind for long, as Inouye and Sanchez hit back-to-back RBI-doubles to take the 2-1 edge. But that advantage was short lived as a two-run home run by Ryan Hamilton highlighted a three-run third inning, giving the Bulldogs back the lead at 4-2.

LTU added two more in the bottom of the fourth to make it 6-2. Hawai`i looked to cut into the lead in the top of the fifth, but left the bases loaded, keeping their deficit at four runs.

But the 'Bows were able to start their comeback in the sixth. Avila led off the sixth with a home run to cut it back to 6-3. UH then added two runs in the seventh, driven in by Frash and Inouye, getting Hawai`i within a run at 6-5.

Hee came up with a big single in the eighth, scoring Joseph Spiers, who had come in as a pinch runner, to tie the score at 6-6. The 'Bows looked primed to take the lead, loading the bases. But UH would leave the three runners on base, for the second time in four innings.

But that just set up the heroics in the ninth. After Inouye doubled to left, Christensen came up with the infield drawn in and hit a double down the right field line, giving UH the 7-6 lead. Daly was then able to shut down the Bulldogs in the bottom of the ninth, striking out the final batter to ensure the victory.

The Rainbows will now take a break for finals week before heading back on the road for a midweek game at San Francisco on Tuesday, May 16.

-UH-