Box Score

MINNEAPOLIS – Landon Hernandez hit a walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth to give the University of Hawai'i Rainbow baseball team (3-3) a 3-2 victory over the Washington Huskies (2-3)in the first game of the Dairy Queen Classic at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome Friday. Harrison Kuroda (1-0) got the win on his birthday, allowing just one hit in 2.0 scoreless innings. Aaron West (0-1) took the loss for UW.

 

In the bottom of the ninth, Kevin Macdonald hit a lead-off single to start the inning. He moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Christian Johnson, then to third on a wild pitch, before Hernandez singled to centerfield, bringing in Macdonald for the game-winner.

 

Macdonald went 2-for-4 with a home run and two runs scored, including the game-winner. Kolten Wong added a 2-for-4 game with a stolen base and a run while Shane Hoey went 1-for-2 with a double. Starting pitcher Nate Klein pitched brilliantly, allowing two runs on six hits in 7.0 innings, striking out eight with just one walk.

 

Washington got on the board early, as the second hitter of the game, Pierce Rankin, hit a solo home run. UH answered in the bottom of the inning as Wong singled, got a stolen base and then scored on an error to tie it at 1-1.

 

The Huskies again took the lead in the third as David Bentrott hit a solo shot to give UW the 2-1 edge.

 

Macdonald then answered in the sixth, blasting a solo home run of his own to tie the game at 2-2.

 

Hawai'i will face UC Santa Barbara tomorrow at 12:00 p.m. (8 a.m. HT) in the second day of the Dairy Queen Classic. UCSB plays host Minnesota later tonight at the Metrodome.