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HONOLULU – In an early but pivotal Western Athletic Conference matchup, the University of Hawai'i baseball team pulled out a thrilling 3-2 extra-inning win over Fresno State on Saturday afternoon at Les Murakami Stadium. Pi'ikea Kitamura's game-winning two-RBI double in the 10^th inning won the game for the Rainbows.

With two outs and no runners on base, Stephen Ventimilia drew a walk from Bulldog closer Taylor Garrison. Kaeo Aliviado then singled to put Ventimilia into scoring position, setting the stage for Kitamura who ripped Garrison's pitch to the right field alley to score both runners and propel UH (19-13, 2-1 WAC) to its first series win over Fresno State (15-16, 1-2 WAC) since 2007.

Brent Harrison (2-1), the fourth Hawai'i hurler on the afternoon, allowed one run in 2.2 innings for the win. Garrison (0-1) dropped his first decision after allowing both Rainbow runs in the 10^th inning.

Aliviado and Kitamura both recorded two hits with Aliviado adding the game-winning run and Kitamura the two game-winning RBI. Aaron Judge batted 3-4 to lead the Bulldogs.

FS scored the game's first run when Rainbow starter Scott Squier issued a walk to Chris Mariscal (1 H, 1 R) and allowed a base hit to Jordan Brink (2-4). Pinch hitter Trent Garrison then delivered an RBI-double off of Jesse Moore who had entered in relief of Squier, to give the Bulldogs a 1-0 lead. Lawrence Chew was then inserted on the mound for UH with two runners in scoring position, and promptly forced a line out to Ventimilia and struck out Patrick Hutcheson to retire the side.

UH responded to tie the game in the bottom of the seventh inning. Zack Swasey hit a fly ball to left field with the bases loaded, as Trevor Podratz (1 H, 1 R) tagged up from third and came home to give UH its first run.

Fresno State took a 2-1 lead in the top of the 10^th inning on an RBI-double by Austin Wynns (1 H, 1 RBI) with Daniel Moultrie (1 R) scoring on the play.

There were 2,994 tickets issued for the game, and a turnstile count of 1,782.

The 'Bows close their first weekend of WAC play and now host Saint Mary's College in a four-game non-conference series beginning Friday, April 13.





                                                                                                -UH-