Box Score | Box Score (html) | Game Recap (Courtesy of Ka Leo)

HONOLULU – Conner George extended his hitting streak to six games and Trevor Podratz had a pair of two-RBI hits, but it wasn't enough as the University of Hawai'i Rainbow baseball team dropped its Big West Conference opener, 7-6, to UC Santa Barbara on Thursday at Les Murakami Stadium.

Hawai'i (5-17, 0-1) rallied from a three-run deficit to tie the game in the seventh inning, but Scott Squier (0-4), pitching in relief for the first time this season, gave up two runs in the ninth inning and suffered the loss. Podratz (2-4) had a career-high four RBI and kept UH in the game with RBI hits in the fourth and sixth innings.

Kaeo Aliviado batted 3-4 with one RBI to lead Hawai'i, with Marc Flores adding two hits one run and two RBI. Tyler Kuresa led UCSB with three hits, one run, and three RBI.

Greg Mahle (4-3) worked two and one-thirds innings of relief to pick up the win for the Gauchos (13-10, 1-0).

Connor Little started for the 'Bows and worked five complete innings allowing four runs on six hits. UCSB starter Austin Pettibone worked five and two-thirds innings also allowing four runs on six hits.

Cameron Newell (1 H, 1 R) opened the scoring for the Gauchos. After hitting a lead-off double in the second inning, he was bunted over to third and then scored on a ground out. UCSB increased the lead to three runs when Dalton Kelly (2-3, 2 RBI) tripled to score two UCSB runs in the fourth inning. Kelly laced a Little pitch to right centerfield off the glove of a diving Aliviado.

A scary moment took place in the fifth inning when Brandon Trinkwon (1 H, 1 R) laced a shot back to the mound off Little's right knee. After suffering through the initial pain, Little finished the inning but would not return as Lawrence Chew came on to start the sixth inning. Trinkwon got a double out of the play and would later score on a Kuresa single.

The 'Bows and Gauchos play game two of the series on Friday at 6:35 p.m.