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

HONOLULU – The University of Hawai'i Rainbow Warriors (8-12) baseball team pulled ahead in the Chicago State (5-12) series on Saturday night at Les Murakami Stadium, battling back from an early Cougars lead for a strong finish in their second straight victory.

It took just two singles, a stolen base and two batters to put the Cougars on the board in the top of the first, as Cody Freund sent leadoff hitter Julian Russell across the plate for only the second CSU lead of the series. UH starter Alex Hatch and the 'Bows made sure that was the last time they would touch the scoreboard.

That advantage would stand for the Cougars through four innings of action, as UH put runners in scoring position with no closure. However, the run support came as the 'Bows strung together multiple hits in the fifth to turn their fortunes, sparked by a Marcus Doi one-out single through the infield. Catcher Kekai Rios erased the Cougar lead with a double pulled to the left field wall, while hard-shot RBI grounders from Josh Rojas and Jacob Sheldon-Collins turned the tide for a 3-1 UH lead.

Coming down the stretch, right-handed reliever Cody Culp took over for Hatch with runners, drawing out a double play to silence the threat.

Collecting his third hit of the night, Doi led off the seventh with a triple to the left field wall, coming home two pitches later on a Rios sacrifice fly for the 4-1 lead.

Culp carried the 'Bows through the final out, allowing only one hit with no damage to secure his third save of the season and the 4-1 victory and claim the 2-1 series lead on the Cougars.

Hatch (2-2) earned the win, going 6.0 innings with six hits and one earned run, tying his season high with seven strikeouts versus two walks.

Chicago State's Dillon Engle (1-4) took the loss, going 7.0 innings with eight hits and four runs, collecting only one strikeout with two walks.

Doi paced the 'Bows, hitting 3-for-3 with two runs scored. Sheldon-Collins and Eric Ramirez both went 2-for-4 on the night.

The Rainbow Warriors and Cougars return to action in the finale on Sunday at 1:05 p.m. at Les Murakami Stadium. UH leads the series 2-1.