Box Score | Box Score (HTML) | Game Highlights (Courtesy of OC Sports TV)

HONOLULU – The University of Hawai'i Rainbow Warriors (7-11) baseball team battled out the victory over the Oklahoma Sooners (13-8) on Friday (March 13) evening at Les Murakami Stadium, riding strong pitching performances and timely hitting to earn the game two win and split the series.

Although the Sooners tallied some early hits, starter Tyler Brashears settled in and worked out of every jam, with smooth sailing after Head Coach Mike Trapasso made a mound visit in the second. With two men on base and no outs, Brashears fell behind 2-0 to OU catcher Chris Shaw, but after Trapasso stepped away, Brashears and company sent the Sooners back to the dugout in order, working out of it to close the frame.

The Rainbow Warriors' offense responded in the bottom half of the inning, facing off with OU starter Alec Hanson, whose fastball clocked in the 95-97 MPH range on the night. Taking on the designated hitter role, Alex Sawelson got the 'Bows started with a leadoff single lined into shallow left field and advanced on a passed ball. Jordan Richartz moved him over, setting up a sac fly for catcher Chayce Ka'aua for the early advantage.

In the fourth, the Sooners capitalized on a UH miscue to even the score, as second baseman Kolby Carpenter doubled down the right field line, but advanced to third as Richartz mishandled the streaking hit in the corner. Designated hitter Robert Tasin scratched him across with an RBI groundout, knotting it up at 1-1.
Despite his apparent velocity, the 'Bows began to drive up Hansen's pitch count early in the game, and it began to show in the second frame. Although, the defense that shielded the Sooners in the series opener stepped in the third, the 'Bows were able to regain the advantage in the fourth.

Ka'aua set the 'Bows up with a one-out walk in the fourth, followed by a Jacob Sheldon-Collins single. Third baseman JJ Kitaoka's two-out RBI double put the Rainbow Warriors ahead for good with a 2-1 advantage.

UH notched a pair of runners in the sixth and eighth, but OU utilized Keaton Hernandez and Tasin to keep the 'Bows' lead to a single run. Throwing two frames with three strikeouts, Hernandez has a UH tie, as the brother to student assistant and former 'Bows catcher Landon Hernandez.
There were tense moments in the eighth, as Cody Culp relieved Matt Valencia after two straight walks, but the junior worked out of it, downing six consecutive batters to earn his fourth save of the year, recording three (3) strikeouts.

The win goes to Brashears (3-2), who pitched seven (7.0) complete innings, limiting the Sooners to five (5) hits and one unearned run, registering six (6) strikeouts versus two (2) walks.

Hansen (2-2) takes the loss for OU, exiting after four (4.0) innings, striking out five (5) and walking four (4), allowing both earned runs on five (5) hits.
Kicking in the go-ahead run, Kitaoka went 2-for-5 on the night, while Sawelson was 2-for-4, scoring the other run. Ka'aua was 0-for-2, but crossed the plate for the game-winner and batted in the first run.

With the series split 1-1, the Sooners and Rainbow Warriors return to Les Murakami Stadium for game three on Saturday (March 14) at 6:35 p.m. The series finale is set for Sunday (March 15) with a 1:05 p.m. first pitch.

Due to both men's and women's basketball teams earning appearances in the Big West Championships title games, Saturday's radio broadcast has been moved to NBC Sports 1500 AM and will also be televised on OC Sports as scheduled.
 
#HawaiiBSB