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

HONOLULU—The University of Hawai'i Rainbow Warriors (14-25, 5-7 Big West) baseball squad fell in Friday's series opener with No. 7 UC Santa Barbara (30-9, 7-3 Big West) at Les Murakami Stadium, as the Gauchos worked a 5-0 shutout behind a brilliant pitching performance by starter Dillon Tate.

Topping out at 98 mph on the gun, Tate held the Rainbow Warriors out of the hit column for seven (7.0) full innings, inducing eight (8) groundouts, five (5) fly balls and six (6) strikeouts to keep UH at bay. However, the junior right-hander did allow two (2) 'Bows to reach base on balls, and two (2) more as hit batters.

In the meantime, the Gauchos were able to build up a lead over Hawai'i, beginning with Woody Woodward crossing the plate in the second inning off a Clay Fisher RBI single to center field. UCSB built its advantage gradually, adding a run in the fourth and fifth, topping off the scoring with a pair in the seventh.

Facing reliever Kyle Nelson in the eighth, the 'Bows evaded the no-hitter as JJ Kitaoka chopped a single over third base. Alan Baldwin added another base knock in the ninth, also against Nelson.

Closing out the game on the mound for the Rainbow Warriors, Eric Gleese made his first appearance since the UC Davis series (April 3), but remained true to form. The senior right-hander kept his 2015 run count at zero with a 2.1-frame outing, allowing just two (2) hits and striking out three (3).

Tate (6-3) earned the win, while UH starter LJ Brewster (5-4) took the loss, throwing 6.2 innings with eight (8) hits and four (4) runs allowed, issuing just one (1) walk and striking out six (6).

The Rainbow Warriors and Gauchos return to action in game two of the series on Saturday at 6:05 p.m. at Les Murakami Stadium. The game will not be televised due to the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) men's volleyball quarterfinal at the Stan Sheriff Center. The radio broadcast will air on NBC Sports Hawai'i on 1500 AM.