Box Score Box Score
HONOLULU – Defense and pitching paced the University of Hawai'i baseball team, but it wasn't enough as the Rainbows (9-4) fell short to Wichita State, 4-2, in their series finale at Les Murakami Stadium on Sunday. UH's eight-game win streak came to a close, and with the win Wichita State improves to 6-6.
Lawrence Chew delivered a fine performance for the 'Bows out of the bullpen. In relief of
David Longville (1-1), he tossed 6.2 scoreless innings while giving up just two hits. Kris Gardner (3-0) earned the win for the Shockers allowing two runs in five innings.
Zack Swasey belted a double and a triple to lead Hawai'i. Pi'ikea Kitamura and
Kaeo Aliviado both batted 2-4 with Kitamura adding one run, and Aliviado recording an RBI.
The Shockers took their first lead of the series when they plated two runs in the second inning. Doubles by Erik Harbutz (1 H, 1 R, 1 RBI) and Garrett Bayliff (2 H, 1 RBI) helped the Shockers to the early lead. Bayliff's double scored Harbutz, who then came home off a
Collin Bennett fielding error. It was the Rainbows' first error of the series and just their second in the last seven games.
The Rainbows responded in the bottom of the inning, as Swasey doubled and later scored on an RBI base hit by Aliviado. Wichita State came back in the top of third to grab a 4-1 lead on RBI hits by Don Lambert (1 H, 1 R) and Casey Gillespie (1 H, 1 R).
UH scored in the fourth inning on an RBI base hit by Aliviado to remain in striking distance and, in the sixth inning, could have made it a one-run ball game. Swasey tripled with one out, but was later thrown out at home when he tried to tag up on a fly ball out from Aliviado. Lambert threw a perfect strike from left field to catcher Ryan Hege who blocked Swasey from reaching home plate.
Trevor Podratz posted one hit and one RBI, and
Stephen Ventimilia and
Breland Almadova added one hit a piece.
The Rainbows will have a quick turnaround as they host Central Michigan in a four-game series starting Wednesday, Mar. 7. First pitch of the series-opener is set for 6:35 p.m.
-UH-
