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HONOLULU – Junior right-handed starting pitcher Brendan Hornung received some much-needed run support, as the University of Hawai'i Rainbow Warriors baseball team (12-14, 1-0 Big West) held off a late advance for an 8-4 victory over the UC Irvine Anteaters (15-8, 0-1 Big West) in Friday night's conference opener at Les Murakami Stadium.

Leading off the game with a hit for the fifth time in the last eight games, center fielder Matt LoCoco jumpstarted the Rainbow Warriors in the opening stanza. First baseman Eric Ramirez backed up his status as the UH RBI leader, following with a one-out RBI single into right center and designated hitter capped off the frame with a 2-run shot up the middle for the early Hawai'i advantage.

The lead grew to 4-0 in the third, as Sheldon-Collins logged a single, moving over on a wild pitch and a groundout, coming across the plate courtesy of a misplayed ball chopper by designated hitter Chayce Ka'aua.

A series of unfortunate throws put UCI's Alex Guenette aboard in the top of the eighth, moving him over the third, where he ended the UH shutout, scoring on Palmer's RBI single up the middle. Two more runs came through as UCI leader Keston Hiura fired a two-run shot to center field off the glove of LoCoco as he avoided wall collision, trimming the UH lead to 5-3 and ending the night for starter Brendan Hornung.

With Cody Culp entering in relief, a third booted ball in the eighth inning cut into the UH lead again, scoring Hiura from third on the misplayed groundout. A hit batter on the next pitch sent the 'Bows to the bullpen again, this time for Matt Valencia, who secured a key strikeout to halt the Anteater run.

LoCoco again served as hero in the home half for UH, making the most of a bases loaded opportunity, splitting the diving outfielders in right center with a two-out, three-run bloop double, extending the UH advantage to 8-4.

The Anteaters again tested UH in the ninth, coaxing out consecutive walks off Valencia, prompting another bullpen call, bringing out right-hander Kyle Mitchell. The junior put UCI away in order to secure the victory and earn his first career save.

With the victory, UH claims the first win over UC Irvine in 10 tries and the first since 2009. This marks their first win over the Anteaters since joining the conference, and is the first BWC opener win since 2014.

Receiving run support equal to his previous four starts combined, Hornung (3-5) earned the victory after 7.2 innings, allowing only five hits with no walks and no earned runs, while striking out six Anteaters.

Taking the loss, Elliot Surrey went 6.0 innings, allowing nine hits, five runs (four earned), with one walk and one strikeout.

LoCoco paced the Rainbow Warriors, hitting 2-for-4 with a walk, earning three RBI and a run. Ka'aua hit 2-for-3 with two RBI, while Marcus Doi went 2-for-4 with two runs.

The Rainbow Warriors and Anteaters return to action in the second of the three-game series on Saturday at Les Murakami Stadium. First pitch is set for 6:35 p.m.