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

HONOLULU – The University of Hawai'i Rainbow Warriors (10-19, 1-3 Big West) baseball team garnered its first Big West Conference victory on Thursday (April 2) night at Les Murakami stadium, starting the series versus UC Davis (18-8-1, 3-1 Big West) off with a bang; taking an early lead and pouring on the runs to an 8-3 victory.

The Big West Conference's top offensive team, the Aggies made the first move, as NCAA doubles leader Nick Lynch added another to cache with an RBI two-bagger down the first base line in the opening frame, but UCD's advantage was short-lived.

In the bottom half, redshirt senior second baseman Stephen Ventimilia started off a big night at the park with a leadoff walk and moved across on an Alan Baldwin sacrifice bunt. Designated hitter Alex Sawelson cashed in the first run of the night for the 'Bows, looping an RBI single into shallow center for the 1-0 lead.

Knotted up after one complete frame, starter LJ Brewster evaded threats from the Aggies early and often, giving the 'Bows offense an opportunity to make their move.

That move came quickly, as JJ Kitaoka and Jacob Sheldon-Collins each collected singles and Chayce Ka'aua reached as a hit batter with one out in the second. Kitaoka crossed the plate on a wild pitch from UCD starter Spencer Koopmans, but Ka'aua and Sheldon-Collins weren't far behind. Ventimilia scratched the pair across the dish three pitches later, with a ground shot powered for two RBI through the interior. Ventimilia would score from second as center fielder Kaeo Aliviado got his night rolling with a looped RBI single to right field, sending UH to a 4-1 advantage.

Across the next three frames, the defenses set the pace and the 'Bows held onto the three-run lead. However, in the sixth, walks caught up with Brewster, giving a pair of Aggie runs on RBI from John Williams and Guillermo Salazar, trimming the deficit to two runs.

While Kyle Von Ruden, Matt Valencia and Cody Culp combined in relief to quiet the push from the Aggies, the offense tacked up some insurance runs to extend the lead in the late frames.

Facing reliever Nat Hamby in the seventh, Ventimilia coaxed out another walk and reached third after a sac bunt and a wild pitch. His move home was quick, as Aliviado squared the next pitch to left field for the RBI double.

The Rainbow Warriors went back to work in the eighth, and Aliviado put the exclamation point on a crucial offensive performance with a two-run single through the right side, extending the lead to its final margin, at 8-3, to open the key Big West series with a win, snapping the Aggies' seven-game winning streak in the process.

Brewster (4-3) picked up the win for the 'Bows, putting in 5.2 innings of work, allowing five (5) hits, three (3) runs and seven (7) walks, while striking out five (5). The relievers allowed just two (2) hits and had no walks, with Valencia tabbing the group's two (2) strikeouts.

For the Aggies, Koopmans (2-3) takes the loss, throwing six (6.0) innings, allowing seven (7) hits, five (5) runs and two (2) walks, earning just one (1) strikeout.

Aliviado made the most of his opportunities, hitting 3-for-5 on the night with four (4) RBI. Ventimilia reached base three (3) times, courtesy of 1-for-2 hitting with two (2) walks, scoring each of time on base, in addition to two (2) RBI.

After taking a sweep in the BWC-opening series at UC Irvine, the 'Bows are now 1-3 in Big West play and 10-19 overall. The series with the Aggies continues on Friday (April 3) at Les Murakami Stadium, with first pitch set for 6:35 p.m.

Friday's game will be broadcasted live on OC Sports TV, with radio coverage on ESPN Honolulu 1420 AM.