Box Score

HONOLULU - The University of Hawai`i Rainbow baseball team (2-1) fell to the Santa Clara Broncos (1-2) 3-2 in the series finale Sunday. Nicholas Rhodes took the loss, giving up two runs in 2.1 innings pitched, while Jeff Lombard took the win for Santa Clara.

Kris Sanchez led the way, going 3-for-5 with a double and one RBI. Brandon Haislet went 2-for-4 with two runs and a double while Elijah Christensen was 1-for-4 with one RBI. Starting pitcher Matthew Daly gave up just one run in 5.0 innings, but earned a no-decision.

For the third time in the series, SCU took an early lead, putting up a run in the top of the second inning. The Broncos looked to add to their advantage, but left two runners in scoring position. Santa Clara again threatened in the top of the third, loading the bases. But UH again dodged a bullet, as Daly forced a ground out to keep the Hawai`i deficit to a run.

The Rainbows then got the offense going in the bottom of the third as Christensen got his first hit of the season to drive in Haislet, tying the score at 1-1.

Hawai`i then took the lead in the bottom of the fifth as Sanchez hit a double off the centerfield wall, scorng Haislet. But Santa Clara came right back in the top of the sixth, scoring a run to again tie the game, at 2-2.

The Broncos then took the lead back at 3-2 in the eighth, scoring on Carl Bacon's second RBI-single of the game. UH had a chance to tie it in the bottom of the ninth, putting runners on the corners. But Lombard was able to strike out the side, preserving SCU's 3-2 victory.

Hawai`i will return to the diamond on Thursday, Feb. 1, at 6:35 p.m., against Georgia Southern, starting a three-game series.

-UH-