Box score
LAS CRUCES, N.M. – The University of Hawai'i baseball team claimed a share of the WAC regular season title Saturday on the heels of a resounding 24-3 defeat of New Mexico State. It was the regular season finale for both teams as the Rainbows improve to 32-23 overall and 17-7 in the WAC, while the Aggies finish 34-22 and 9-15 in conference.
As co-regular season champions with Fresno State, UH claims its first title since 1992 when the team also won the WAC Tournament. The Rainbows must await the conclusion of this weekend's WAC play to determine if they are the No. 1 seed in the WAC Tournament.
Breland Almadova (5-7, 4 R, 2 RBI) recorded a single-game career high in hits, and Zack Swasey (4-6, 3 R, 6 RBI) did the same with his six RBI. Pi'ikea Kitamura batted 3-4 with two runs and three RBI and Jeff Van Doornum added three hits, two runs, and four RBI.
Argenis Paz led the Aggies with two hits and two runs scored. Connor Little (4-4) earned the win for UH in a rare relief appearance, allowing no earned runs in 2.1 innings pitched. Trey Ross (6-4) was tagged with the loss in 3.1 innings of work for NMSU.
The Rainbows won on the heels of a 15-run sixth inning, equaling a program record set in 1989. UH scored 13 of the runs with two outs.
The double elimination WAC tournament begins Wednesday, May 25, in Mesa, Arizona.
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