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HONOLULU – Trailing since early in Friday night's contest, the University of Hawaii Rainbow Warriors baseball team kept the fight alive and came through with clutch rookie hits in the ninth against No. 19 Michigan to force extra innings, but the offense couldn't hold in the 10th, as the Wolverines quelled the rally and held on for the 5-4 win.

Although right-hander Kyle Von Ruden opened the bottom of the second with consecutive strikeouts, the Wolverines put a runner aboard and Johnny Slater made it count, with a low drive down the first base line for a double that couldn't have been more perfectly placed, dribbling to the right field corner for an RBI double as Drew Lugbauer beat the tag at the dish.

Ethan Lopez made the most of his first career start at second base. The Whittier, Calif. freshman cracked his bat cap on the first pitch in the third, but after grabbing a new barrel, he fired a low liner down the third base line for his first career hit, a double into the left field corner. Aggressive Lopez base running aided the 'Bows, taking third on a wild pitch and home on another, tying the game at 1-1.

After Von Ruden shut down the Wolverines for three consecutive innings, Michigan got it going again in the sixth, scoring two runs on three hits, courtesy of RBI shots from Carmen Benedetti and Cody Bruder, pulling ahead 3-1.

The Wolverines made the Rainbow Warriors' job tougher in the top of the ninth, capitalizing on a Lugbauer single and an error in the UH outfield, later sliding in to beat the tag on a squeeze sacrifice bunt by Ako Thomas for the insurance run, prompting a lively debate from head coach Mike Trapasso, which ended in his ejection.

Although only five balls escaped the infield against Michigan starter Brett Adcock, the Rainbow Warriors came alive in the bottom half as third baseman Johnny Weeks sparked UH with an infield single. Designated hitter Alex Sawelson joined him, reaching base on a wild pitch and left fielder Marcus Doi loaded up the bases after coaxing out a walk off reliever Bryan Pall.

The Rainbow Warriors needed a huge play from their two youngest players on the field, and that is exactly what was provided. Catcher Kekai Rios fired a single deep up the middle that was saved from the outfield by Thomas at second, but provided an RBI to trim the lead. Facing the high-pressure situation in his second career game, Lopez followed with a liner to outer right field, sending pinch runners Kobi Candaroma and Alan Baldwin to the plate for the tie at 4-4.

As Rios slid into the plate looking for the walk-off win, it was ruled that catcher Lugbauer applied the tag, leaving the game tied and providing extra innings.

Taking in the third inning with reliever Cody Culp on the mound, Matt Ramsay led off with a single up the middle, moving over on an error and scoring the go-ahead run on a Harrison Wenson RBI single to deep left field.

In the bottom half, closer Keith Lehmann halted the UH rally in its tracks, downing the 'Bows in order for his first save of the season and securing the 5-4 Michigan win.

For the Wolverines, Adcock went 7.0 innings deep, allowing two hits and one run, striking out 12 Rainbow Warriors with two walks. Pall (1-0) came away with the win, backing into the 10th after allowing three runs on three hits and two walks, striking out six in 2.0 innings. In total, Michigan fanned 20 UH batters, setting a new opponent record.

For the Rainbow Warriors, Culp (0-1) took the loss, throwing 2.0 innings with three hits and two earned runs. Starter Von Ruden went 7.2 innings on the night and allowed three earned runs on eight hits, striking out five with two walks.

Weeks and Lopez both went 2-for-4 with one run, while Lopez added the two clutch RBI in the ninth.

With Michigan leading the series 2-0, the Rainbow Warriors and Wolverines return to action in the third and fourth games on Saturday at Les Murakami Stadium, closing out the series with a pair of seven-inning games in a doubleheader, beginning at 12:05 p.m.