Box Score (html)

SAN JOSE, Calif. –  Garrett Champion hit a two-out, two-run double to spark a five-run fourth inning and the University of Hawai'i baseball team turned back San Jose State 6-4 on Friday at Municipal Stadium in the opener of their crucial Western Athletic Conference series. 

Champion's double was his first extra base hit of the season and gave UH its first lead of the game. Stephen Ventimila followed with a base hit to score two more runs as the Rainbows went up 6-2 in the fourth inning. Champion finished hitting 2-3 with one run and two RBI. 

Breland Almadova (1 H, 1 R, 2 RBI) belted his first homerun of the season for the 'Bows, who improved to 22-15 overall and 3-1 in the WAC with its first road win. Ventimilia and Kaeo Aliviado both batted 2-5, with Ventimilia adding his two fourth-inning RBI and one run scored. 

Matt Sisto (7-3) worked into the seventh inning and left the game with a pair of Spartan runners in scoring position. Jesse Moore and Lawrence Chew finished the game, with Chew picking up his second save. 

Michael Gerlach had two hits including a two-run double for the Spartans (18-15, 3-1 WAC) who fell from the ranks of the WAC's unbeaten. Johnny Melero (2-5) was tagged with the loss for SJSU, allowing five earned runs in four innings of work. 

San Jose State plated a run in the first inning, but Almadova's solo homer just one-half inning later quickly evened things up. SJSU retook the lead in the third inning at 3-2, but the Rainbows were fortunate to not see more Spartans cross home plate as a pair of fielding errors led to just one unearned run for Sisto. 

The Spartans attempted a comeback in the seventh inning, as Gerlach's double shaved the UH lead to 6-4, but Moore forced a ground out from Kalei Contrades (1-4) to end the inning. 

Hawai'i and San Jose State play game two of the series on Saturday. First pitch is set for 1:00 p.m. PT (10:00 a.m. HT).





                                                                                                -UH-