Box score
LONG BEACH, CA – In its road finale, the University of Hawai'i baseball team lost to Long Beach State, 4-3. The Rainbows fall to 5-7 while the Dirtbags improve to 6-6.
The Rainbows had the bases loaded with one out in the ninth inning, but could not manufacture a game-tying run. Pi'ikea Kitamura led UH at the plate, batting 3-3 with one run which included a game-tying RBI-triple in the sixth inning.
Jarrett Arakawa started his first game for the 'Bows but did not factor in the decision. He pitched five complete innings allowing two earned runs on seven hits with six strikeouts. Brent Harrison (0-1) was tagged with the loss in three innings of work. Kyle Friedrichs (2-1) earned the win for Long Beach allowing one run in a relief role.
Jeff Yamaguchi led the Dirtbags with two hits and one run.
Long Beach State plated two runs in the first inning then added one more in the second for the early 3-0 lead. The 'Bows rallied in the fifth inning, scoring two runs to cut the deficit to 3-2. Sean Montplaiser (2 H, 1 RBI) singled in Kitamura for the first run, then a double steal resulted in Kolten Wong (1 H, 1 R) racing home from third base.
Kitamura's triple tied the game one inning later, but Long Beach regained the lead for good in the eighth off a wild pitch.
Hawai'i now returns home to host Portland in a four-game series. First pitch of game one is set for 6:35 p.m. this Thursday, March 10, at Les Murakami Stadium.
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