Box Score (html)

RUSTON, La. – Breland Almadova homered and Kaeo Aliviado and Stephen Ventimilia both recorded a pair of hits, but it was not enough as the University of Hawai'i baseball team lost to Louisiana Tech 9-4 on Friday at J.C. Love Field. 

Jarrett Arakawa (5-4) was tagged with the loss for the Rainbows (25-17, 5-3 WAC), who have homered in five of their last six games. Arakawa came into the game with a league-best 1.69 ERA, but allowed five earned runs on seven hits in 3.2 innings.  David Longville allowed one run on two hits in 3.1 innings of relief of Arakawa. Phil Maton (6-4) earned the win for LaTech (19-23, 2-9 WAC), working seven innings and allowing three earned runs on six hits. 

The 'Bows were hoping to get off to a fast start, but it was the Bulldogs that did the early damage. With a pair of runners on base, Bre'shon Kimbell (1-3, 1 R, 4 RBI) crushed a homerun to give LaTech a 3-0 lead after just one inning. 

Hawai'i responded right away though when Breland Almadova (1 H, 1 R, 2 RBI) hit a two-run homer to left field to cut into the Bulldog lead. 

In the third inning, Arakawa found himself in a pickle once again but escaped with minimal damage. With no outs and the bases loaded, he surrendered just one run when Taylor Terrasas (1 H, 1 R, 2 RBI) tagged up and scored from third on a sacrifice fly by Kimbell. 

Arakawa continued to battle but would leave the game in the fourth inning after LaTech pushed the lead to 5-2. Longville entered, but an infield throwing error cost the 'Bows two more runs to trail 7-2. 

Hawai'i and LaTech will play their series finale on Saturday with the first pitch set for 3:00 p.m. CT (10:00 a.m. HT).






                                                                                                    -UH-