Box Score

HONOLULU - The University of Hawai`i Rainbow baseball team (9-13, 2-0 WAC) shut out the Fresno State Bulldogs (8-12, 0-2) 2-0 in front of a crowd of 2,760 at Les Murakami Stadium Friday. Nicholas Rhodes (1-2) gave UH their second-straight pitching gem to get the victory. Jayson Kramer came in late to earn the save, while Justin Wilson (2-3) took the loss for the Bulldogs.

Rhodes had a career-night, allowing just hits and two walks while striking out a career-high 11 batters in 8.2 innings. Brandon Haislet led the offensive effort, going 1-for-3 with a two-run home run. Jeffrey Van Doornum added a 1-for-2 game with a run and two walks while Jonathan Hee, Landon Hernandez and Sean Montplaisir had the other three hits for UH.

The game marked the first time since the opening two games of the 1999 season (Jan. 22, 23 vs. UCLA) that UH posted back-to-back shutouts. It was also the first time they had back-to-back shutouts in WAC play since April 4 and 5, 1992, against Wyoming.

Rhodes started off the game on fire, striking out the side in the first inning, while retiring the first 11 batters he faced, including seven by strikeout.

Wilson was also holding down the Rainbows as well until the bottom of the fourth inning. Van Doornum drew a two-out walk before Haislet blasted a deep shot down the rightfield line, giving UH the 2-0 edge.

That turned out to be all the offense on the night, although the Bulldogs would threaten late. After Danny Grubb reached on an error, Danny Muno walked to put two runners on with just one out. The runners advanced to second and third on a ground out, setting up the tying run in scoring position. Kramer was brought in to face Fresno State's best hitter, Erik Wetzel, and induced the ground out to end the game. Rhodes and Kramer combined to face just three batters over the minimum in the game.

The series concludes with a doubleheader tomorrow, starting at 1:05 p.m.

-UH-