Box Score | Box Score (pdf)
Photo Gallery (courtesy Chase Simmons - Hawaii Media Source)

HONOLULU – In an extra innings tilt that stretched nearly four hours, the University of Hawai'i Rainbow Warriors baseball team collected its first home win of the 2016 season, claiming the 4-3 victory over New Mexico in an 11th-inning walk-off by pinch hitter Alex Sawelson.

Opening up a long night at Les Murakami Stadium, the Lobos made solid contact early for the second night in a row, putting up three base hits in the first inning of Saturday's game; the third of which an RBI single through the left side from left fielder Jared Mang for the 1-0 lead.

Sporting rainbow green retro uniforms akin to the Houston Astros jerseys of the 1980s, the Rainbow Warriors countered when center fielder Matt LoCoco drew an eight-pitch leadoff walk in the first, moving over on a sac bunt and racing home on first baseman Eric Ramirez' game-tying RBI single into shallow left field.

After four steady but scoreless innings, LoCoco livened things up, going yard for a career-first home run down the right field line to grant the 'Bows a 2-1 advantage. Now on the year, three of LoCoco's four hits have gone for extra bases, including two triples.

As the offense cooled in the back half of Saturday's contest, outstanding defensive plays along the way from the Rainbow Warriors set the tone, including a line drive snag by third baseman Johnny Weeks, a smooth double play transition for shortstop Jacob Sheldon-Collins and Ramirez snatching a bases-loaded line drive out of the air to end the seventh on an unassisted double play.

Sheldon-Collins grew the Hawai'i lead in the bottom of the seventh with a lined single up the middle to scratch across Weeks from second, well ahead of the throw from center field for the 3-1 advantage.

Settling in during a late relief appearance, junior right-hander Isaac Friesen went two frames, allowing three hits, but left a pair of runners aboard in the ninth before yielding to right-hander Kyle Mitchell in his first appearance, who tallied a pair of outs. With runners at second and third, Casey Ryan threw a pair of uncharacteristic wild pitches, giving both runners the chance to score and knot the game at 3-3.

Assuming pitching duties in extra innings, senior left-hander Matt Valencia took charge on the mound, allowing no hits while walking two and registering two clutch strikeouts to keep the Lobos at bay.

Opening up the 11th, left fielder Marcus Doi got things going again for UH, leading off the frame with a low line drive deep into left field. The junior moved over to third on a Weeks grounder. Making his first appearance of the series, senior pinch hitter Alex Sawelson stepped to the challenge, driving a 1-2 pitch to outer left field, giving Doi an easy path to the plate for the walk-off RBI single.

Valencia (1-0) earned the win for the Rainbow Warriors, while closer Victor Sanchez (0-1) took the loss for New Mexico.

At the plate, the Lobos outhit the Rainbow Warriors 10-6, but UH made nearly every hit translate into a score. While LoCoco's home run shifted the momentum in UH's favor, Doi topped the 'Bows in hitting, going 2-for-3 with a walk and the game-winning run. Sheldon-Collins and Ramirez each logged one hit and one RBI apiece.

The 'Bows divided the series with Saturday's win, and return to Les Murakami Stadium on Sunday for a 1:05 p.m. first pitch in the third game of the series.