Box Score

HONOLULU - Kevin Macdonald sent a single to rightfield to score the final two runs in the bottom of the ninth as the University of Hawai`i Rainbow baseball team (24-25, 16-12 WAC) came back to beat the Sacramento State Hornets (20-27, 11-12) 8-7 in the series-finale in front of a crowd of 2,531 at Les Murakami Stadium Sunday. Cory Kahn (3-2) picked up the win for UH while Jeff Roth (2-2) got the loss for the Hornets.

Ryan Asato provided the big blast for UH, hitting his first career home run. Jeffrey Van Doornum went 2-for-4 with two RBI and a double while Greg Garcia was also 2-for-4 with two runs and one RBI. Landon Hernandez posted a 2-for-4 game as well with Jonathan Hee going 1-for-4 with two runs and one RBI.

Sacramento State took an early lead by scoring three runs, aided by two Rainbow errors, in the top of the first inning. The 'Bows responded as Van Doornum hit a two-run double in the bottom of the first, cutting the deficit back to 3-2.

The Hornets added to their lead in the fourth, scoring two to get it to 5-2. That was where it stayed until the bottom of the seventh when Asato blasted a two-run shot to rightfield, pulling UH within a run. Hee later drove in a run in the inning to tie the score at 5-5.

But Sacramento State took the lead right back in the top of the eighth, scoring two runs, the second on a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch, pushing them ahead 7-5. Hawai`i had a chance in the bottom of the eighth, as the first two batters in the inning reached base. But Roth got a strike out and a double play to keep the Hornets ahead, going into the ninth inning.

The heroics hit in the bottom of the ninth. Garcia singled down the rightfield line to drive in pinch-runner Kevin Fujii. Hee then singled to left before Van Doornum walked to load the bases for Macdonald. Macdonald appeared to tie the score by drawing a hit-by-pitch. But home plate umpire Kevin Sweeney called Macdonald back to the plate, claiming he had leaned into the pitch. It turned back in UH's favor two pitches later as Macdonald hit a bloop single to right, driving in both Garcia and Hee to give the Rainbows the 8-7 victory.

Hawai`i will now head on the road for a four-game series at New Mexico State to close UH's WAC regular season schedule. The series will go from May 8-10, before the 'Bows return home for finals week.

-UH-