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HONOLULU – The University of Hawai'i Rainbow Warrior (9-13) baseball team opened up the Santa Clara (9-10) series with a hard-fought defensive struggle before falling to the Broncos in a tough loss on Thursday at Les Murakami Stadium, 3-1.

It was the Broncos who struck first, using a Kyle Cortopassi leadoff triple in the second inning to take the one-run advantage on an RBI single from Kamehameha graduate Tyler Meditz RBI single through the left side. Behind the pitching of Travis Howard in his first collegiate start, coupled with a stout Bronco defense, Santa Clara forced UH to strand five runners through the first four innings in the early shutout.

The 'Bows made their strike in the bottom of the fifth, knotting the game at 1-1 as a Johnny Weeks logged an RBI beating out a double play to cash in Josh Rojas, who led off the frame with a single through the right side.

The Broncos made the most of three consecutive singles to open the seventh, reclaiming the lead on Grant Meylan's hard shot through the right side. A second run crossed the plate as Joe Becht stole home during a strikeout and double play rundown in the base line to end the inning, but Santa Clara chalked the run to pull ahead, 3-1.

Down the line, Howard teamed with Nick Medeiros to contain the Rainbow Warriors, holding the lead steady, as the 'Bows earned nine runners on bases but tallied three hits with runners aboard.

Howard (2-1) earned the win after throwing 6.2 innings, allowing six hits and one run, striking out seven and walking one. Medeiros followed with his second save, pitching 2.1 innings with no hits allowed.

Brendan Hornung (2-5) took the loss for UH, throwing 7.1 innings with a career-high nine strikeouts and one walk, allowing eight hits and three runs.

Matt LoCoco and Jacob Sheldon-Collins paced the Rainbow Warriors, each hitting 2-for-4, while Weeks was 1-for-4 with an RBI.

The Rainbow Warriors and Broncos return to action on Friday, March 25, at Les Murakami Stadium for the second game of the series. First pitch is set for 6:35 p.m.
 

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