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

HONOLULU—Battling behind seven solid innings from starter LJ Brewster and two more in relief from Quintin Torres-Costa, the University of Hawai'i Rainbow Warriors (13-23, 4-6 Big West) baseball team held off the Cal State Northridge (CSUN) Matadors (22-14, 2-8 Big West) in a one-run shutout to open the conference series, Friday (April 17) night at Les Murakami Stadium.

Senior second baseman Stephen Ventimilia logged a leadoff single to get the Rainbow Warriors started in the series, and proved to be the difference, becoming the lone run scored as well. After Kaeo Aliviado and Eric Ramirez walks loaded the bases, Ventimilia crossed the dish from third after a wild pitch ricocheted off the plate umpire's mask.

Although the Rainbow Warriors didn't produce much offense—only generating two (2) hits despite the recent rush of base hits—against the fundamental, defensive-minded Matadors, it proved unnecessary in the series opener. The Hawai'i pitching staff kept CSUN at bay, despite two runners reaching third, holding the Matadors to just four (4) hits to preserve the shutout.

Friday's victory was the first shutout win since the third game of the 2014 New York Institute of Technology (NYIT) series (May 3, 2014), 11-0, with the second game of that series a matching 1-0 triumph.

Brewster surmounted the challenge of the Matadors driving his pitch count early in Friday's contest, delivering a three-pitch inning in the final frame of his seven (7.0) inning three-hitter, striking out five (5) and walking one (1).

Torres-Costa secured his second save of the year, throwing two (2.0) innings with a lone hit for CSUN, striking out three (3) and walking none.

Ventimilia teamed with Eric Ramirez (1-for-2) to record UH's hits. Meanwhile, shortstop Jacob Sheldon-Collins made his impact with the glove, logging a pair of highlight replay-worthy grabs for key outs.

The Rainbow Warriors and Matadors are back at it on Saturday (April 18) at Les Murakami Stadium, with first pitch set for game two at 6:35 p.m. The game will be televised on OC Sports and broadcast on radio on ESPN Honolulu 1420 AM.