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HONOLULU – The Big West first-place University of Hawai'i Rainbow Warriors baseball team (17-15, 6-1 Big West) extended their conference win streak in Friday's series opener versus Cal Poly (19-13, 2-2 Big West) at Les Murakami Stadium, overcoming three Mustangs runs with a big eighth inning push in the 6-3 victory.

Although the 'Bows made the first big hit of the night, as left fielder Marcus Doi crushed a second-inning leadoff double to right center, it was the Mustangs that first reached the scoreboard. A sailed throw-in allowed Kyle Marinconz to make more out of an outfield single in the top of the third, while Alex McKenna scored from second on the play. A laser shot just inside the bag at third gave CP the 2-0 advantage on a Brett Barbier RBI double.

A pair of UH runners looked doomed to get stranded in the fourth when Cal Poly second baseman Dylan Doherty double-clutched on an Alex Fitchett two-out grounder, throwing into the Mustangs' dugout and scoring both first baseman Eric Ramirez and Doi to tie the game at two-all.

The 'Bows capitalized on solid base knocks to open up the fifth, as a Ramirez sacrifice fly sent center fielder Matt LoCoco home for the go-ahead run on a 3-2 advantage.

After collecting two consecutive outs to open the seventh in relief, Cody Culp allowed three straight Mustang batters aboard, capped off by a Barbier RBI single to knot the score up at three runs.

A core element in the recent 'Bows success has been timely hitting in clutch situations, and Friday's eighth inning was no different. Ramirez led off the frame with a five-pitch walk and reached third on an error, while Chayce Ka'aua also coaxed out a walk against Cal Poly closer Justin Calomeni. Ramirez would again claim a lead for UH, scoring on a wild pitch.

Stepping in with a man on second, Fitchett belted a triple to left center to scratch Ka'aua across. Josh Rojas capped off the run with an RBI single up the middle, easily scoring Fitchett from third for the 6-3 advantage.

Picking up his second win, Matt Valencia closed out the Mustangs in order in the final frame, closing off 1.1 innings on the mound, striking out two.

For the Mustangs, starter Kyle Smith (4-3) took the loss, pitching 7.1 innings, allowing eight hits with four runs (two earned), striking out seven with one walk.
Ramirez had his hand in three scoring plays, batting 1-for-2 with two runs and an RBI. Sheldon-Collins and Doi each hit 2-for-4, with Doi adding a run for the 'Bows.

The 'Bows have now earned victories in four straight conference games and 11 of the last 14 contests. UH and Cal Poly return to action in the second game of the series on Saturday at Les Murakami Stadium, with first pitch set for 6:35 p.m.