HONOLULU – The University of Hawai`i Rainbow baseball team (16-9) took the series finale over the No. 18 Coastal Carolina Chanticleers (19-7) 4-3, taking the series three games to one, in front of a crowd of 2,285 at Les Murakami Stadium Saturday. Connor Little (2-0) got the win, allowing two runs in 6.2 innings. Josh Slaats picked up his third save of the year, allowing a run in 2.1 innings while Coastal's Austin Fleet (3-2) took the loss, allowing four runs in 5.1 innings.

 

Kolten Wong went 1-for-4 with two RBI, two runs and a home run. Vinnie Catricala added a 2-for-3 game with a double while Jeffrey Van Doornum was 2-for-3 with one RBI. Landon Hernandez also went 2-for-4 while Kevin Macdonald had a double, a run and one RBI.

 

The Chants jumped on the scoreboard in the top of the first as Rico Noel singled, stole second and third bases, then scored on an RBI-single by Tyler Bortnick, going ahead 1-0.

 

Hawai`i responded right away as Macdonald doubled in a run to tie the game at 1-1. Wong then hit a two-run homer to right, giving UH the lead at 3-1.

 

Coastal cut it back to 3-2 in the top of the fourth as David Anderson hit a solo home run. But the 'Bows got that run back in the bottom of the sixth as Van Doornum singled in Wong, making the score 4-2.

 

It stayed that way until the ninth inning when Bortnick led off with a home run to right for the Chants. After allowing a single and a sacrifice bunt, Slaats took over, striking out the final two batters to close out the 4-3 victory.

 

The Rainbows will now start Western Athletic Conference play, hosting San Jose State for a four-game series starting Friday, Apr. 3, at 6:35 p.m.