Box Score | Box Score (pdf) | Game Highlights (Courtesy OC Sports)

HONOLULU – The University of Hawai'i Rainbow Warriors (7-12) baseball team evened the series with Chicago State (5-11) on Friday Night at Les Murakami Stadium, using timely hitting and clutch defensive stops to hold on for the 4-0 shutout.

Much like Thursday's opener, game two began as a pitcher's duel, as the Cougars and Rainbow Warriors extended their string of innings without an earned run to 12 and 1/2 innings.

The Rainbow Warriors finally broke the deadlock in the bottom of the fourth, as left fielder Marcus Doi reached base on a wild pitch, but didn't stay on the basepath for long. Right fielder Alex Fitchett fired an RBI triple past a diving David Wright in center field for the UH advantage. Fitchett himself was quick to cross the dish, as catcher Kekai Rios followed with an RBI single, also into the right center gap, for the 2-0 lead.

After third baseman Johnny Weeks reached base on a dropped fly in left field, the 'Bows struck again in the fifth, scoring from second base on pulled Eric Ramirez RBI double lined cleanly into right field for the 3-0 lead.

The Cougars started to brew a jam for UH starter Kyle Von Ruden in the seventh, breaking up his three-hitter with three consecutive singles to lead off the frame. Going to the bullpen for right-hander Cody Culp, the 'Bows wiped the bases clean with an ever-rare 6-4-5 triple play—only the sixth team in the nation to log one this season.

Running up against CSU reliever Thomas Caulfield in the seventh, UH capitalized on a four-pitch Alan Baldwin walk, as the senior stole second and moved to third on a wild pitch, crossing the plate on a Weeks RBI fielder's choice for the insurance run and the 4-0 advantage.

Culp teamed up with right-handed reliever Casey Ryan and lefty Matt Valencia to shut the door on the Cougars, securing the shutout victory with now hits given among the trio. Valencia earned his second save of the season, closing out the final two Cougars on four pitches.

Von Ruden (2-1) earned the win, pitching 7.2 innings with six hits and no runs allowed, striking out five with no walks.

Starter Justin Wyant (1-4) took the loss for CSU, pitching 6.0 innings with six hits, three runs and five strikeouts.

At the plate, center fielder Matt LoCoco went 2-for-3 with a walk, while Fitchett was 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI.

The Rainbow Warriors and Cougars return to action on Saturday at 6:35 p.m. at Les Murakami Stadium looking to break the series tie in game three.