HONOLULU – The University of Hawai'i Rainbow baseball team (6-6) won the series-finale over No. 26 Mississippi State (8-4) 11-5 in front of a crowd of 2,629 at Les Murakami Stadium Sunday. Josh Slaats (1-1) pitched great in relief, allowing one run on three hits while striking out five in 4.2 innings to get the win. Chad Crosswhite (0-1) of MSU took the loss.

 

Greg Garcia went 3-for-4 with three runs, one RBI, a stolen base and a double while Shane Hoey was 2-for-4 with two RBI and a run. Kolten Wong blasted a two-run home run with Matt Roquemore also providing two RBI. Vinnie Catricala went 2-for-5 with one RBI and a stolen base while Landon Hernandez going 1-for-2 with three runs, one RBI and a stolen base.

 

Hawai'i jumped out early as Catricala singled in a run in the first. UH added three runs in the second and three more in the third to push it 7-0 before the Bulldogs responded.

 

MSU hit back-to-back doubles in the fourth inning to put up a run, then posted three runs in the fifth to get it to 7-4.

 

The Rainbows came up with single runs in the fifth and sixth innings before Wong hit his first career home run, a two run shot to right, to give Hawai'i an 11-4 advantage. MSU added another run in the eighth to make the final score 11-5.

 

The 'Bows will next host Loyola Marymount in a four-game series at Les Murakami Stadium from Thursday, March 12, through Sunday, March 15.