Box Score

MINNEAPOLIS – The University of Hawai'i Rainbow baseball team (2-3) won its first road game of the season over the Minnesota Golden Gophers (2-2) 6-2 at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome Thursday. Jayson Kramer (1-1) got the win, allowing two runs in 5.2 innings pitched, while Sam Spangler earned the save. Tim Ryan (0-1) took the loss for Minnesota.

 

Vinnie Catricala led the way for UH, going 2-for-5 with three RBI and a run. Kolten Wong went 1-for-4 with two runs and a double while Sean Montplaisir was 1-for-4 with a RBI-double. Kevin Macdonald and Christian Johnson also had 1-for-4 games with one RBI apiece.

 

Minnesota jumped on the scoreboard, scoring a run in the first inning. But Catricala had the answer for Hawai'i in the third inning, whacking a two-run single to left to give the 'Bows the 2-1 edge.

 

The Gophers tied the score at 2-2 with a run in the bottom of the fourth. But UH answered in the top of the sixth. Macdonald and Johnson hit back-to-back RBI singles to cap a run of four-straight Rainbow hits to start the inning. Montplaisir later hit a double to right-center that scored Macdonald. But Johnson was thrown out at the plate, holding the Rainbow lead to 5-2.

 

Catricala drove in another run in the seventh to extend UH's lead to 6-2. From there, it was all Spangler, who allowed just two hits and no walks while striking out five in 3.1 scoreless innings.

 

Hawai'i will start play in the Dairy Queen Classic tomorrow, facing Washington at 12:15 p.m. (8:15 a.m. HT) in the Metrodome. UH will then play UC Santa Barbara at 12:00 p.m. (8:00 a.m. HT) on Saturday, Feb. 28, before closing the classic with a 3:05 p.m. (11:05 a.m. HT) vs. Minnesota on Sunday, March 1.