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HONOLULU – The University of Hawai'i Rainbow Warriors baseball team (6-12) went down in the series opener to Chicago State on Thursday night at Les Murakami Stadium, leaving 12 men on base as the Cougars capitalized late, breaking the gridlock in the final frame of the 1-0 loss.
 
Junior starter Brendan Hornung was dealing on the mound for the Rainbow Warriors, but in Thursday's true pitcher's duel, so was junior Chicago State starter Jake Perkins, who tossed 127 pitches to get the Cougars through 7.0 scoreless innings before yielding to reliever Zach Thomas.
 
With Hornung carrying just three CSU hits into the ninth inning, Julian Russell reach on an error with one out, and Matt Sullivan followed with a single to right field as Hornung crested 112 pitches. Despite handing off to close-out reliever Cody Culp, the runners came back to bite the Rainbow Warriors, as CSU first baseman Andy Gertonson took his second pitch through the left side, just beyond the reach of shortstop Johnny Weeks, taking the 1-0 lead in the ninth as Russell scored from second. A double play closed the frame.
 
In the bottom half, the Rainbow Warriors notched another baserunner, but came up short with the series opener closing on an infield pop-up.
 
Hornung (2-4) went a career-long 8.1 innings, allowing five hits with no walks, while recording a career-high eight strikeouts, taking the loss for UH.
 
Perkins allowed two UH hits through his 7.0 innings, walking six and striking out eight. Thomas (2-0) earned the win, giving no hits with three walks and two strikeouts through 2.0 innings.
 
The Rainbow Warriors were 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position, including a pair of occasions that freshman third baseman Ethan Lopez reached third. Lopez logged a triple and was 1-for-4, while Josh Rojas was 1-for-2.
 
The Rainbow Warriors and Cougars return to action Friday in the second of the four-game series at Les Murakami Stadium. First pitch is set for 6:35 p.m.