Box Score

HONOLULU - Derek DuPree hit a walk-off single in the bottom of the 11th to give the University of Hawai`i Rainbow baseball team a 4-3 win over the UH-Hilo Vulcans in the season-opener in front of a crowd of 2,529 at Les Murakami Stadium Friday. Joshua Schneider pitched a perfect 11th inning to get the victory. Christian Stephenson took the loss for UH-Hilo.

Brandon Haislet had a great game, going 1-for-1 with two runs, a stolen base and three walks. Kevin Fujii scored two runs, the game-tying run in the 10th and the game-winner in the 11th while Kevin Macdonald and Jeffrey Van Doornum both had one RBI and a double. Matthew Daly pitched well for the 'Bows, allowing two runs on four hits with seven strikeouts, getting the no-decision.

The Vulcans opened the scoring in the top of the second inning as Keoni Manago singled to right, bringing in a run. But the Rainbows made a great defensive play to keep the damage at a minimum, getting a double play after the run scored, keeping it at 1-0.

Hawai`i tied the score in the bottom of the third as Greg Garcia scored on a wild pitch, tying it at 1-1.

It stayed tied until the top of the sixth when Michael Higa hit a solo home run to right field, giving UHH the 2-1 advantage. AJ Satele added to the Vulcan lead, driving in a run in the eighth to make it 3-1.

Macdonald doubled in Haislet in the eighth to cut the deficit to 3-2. Shane Hoey then came up with the big hit in the bottom of the ninth, driving in pinch-runner Fujii to tie it at 3-3, sending the game into extra innings.

Higa again stepped up in the top of the 10th, driving in the the go-ahead run. The Vulcans had a chance to add to their lead, but left the bases loaded, keeping it at 4-3.

The 'Bows took advantage in the bottom of the 10th. Haislet led off the inning with a single. He then stole second base, then got to third on a throwing error. Van Doornum then hit a long fly ball to center, forcing a leaping catch by UHH's Dayne Ogawa, sacrificing in Haislet to tie it again at 4-4.

After Schneider pitched a 1-2-3 top of the 11th, Hawai`i made their move. Fujii hit a bunt single down the third base line. After Nathan Young hit a sacrifice bunt to get him to second, Fujii got over to third on a ground out by Jonathan Hee. DuPree then got his hit to the right side of the infield, going just past a diving Higa at second, giving the 'Bows the 5-4 victory.

The two teams will face off again tomorrow at 1:05 p.m. at Les Murakami Stadium. Jared Alexander will pitch the Rainbows against Joe Davis.

-UH-