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HONOLULU – The University of Hawai'i Rainbow Warriors (23-29) pulled ahead early on Arizona (37-20), but the Wildcats battled back with a big sixth inning to push past the 'Bows en route to a 6-1 win at Les Murakami Stadium, taking the series victory.

After falling in a nine-run loss on Friday night, it was the 'Bows who struck first in the second game of the series. First baseman Eric Ramirez led off the second with a team-high 12th double lined into left field. After Kekai Rios moved him over, Ethan Lopez sent him home with a deep sacrifice fly into right field.

The Wildcats took advantage of a pair of 'Bows miscues in the top of the fourth, putting the tie run aboard as a hit batter, followed by a single and a third runner reaching on catcher's interference. Jared Oliva made it count with a sacrifice fly to draw the game even at 1-1.

Ryan Aguilar sparked the push to pull Arizona ahead in the top of the sixth, roping a leadoff double down the left field line, setting up a JJ Matijevic sacrifice fly for the go-ahead run, ending the night and the season for starter Alex Hatch. Although reliever Cody Culp induced a quick pop-up to secure the second out, Cesar Salazar fired a two-run double to cap off the three-run frame for the Wildcats.

Arizona tacked up additional runs in the seventh and ninth to extend their advantage to 6-1.

After coming out hot early, the Hawai'i offense stalled through the middle innings. UH mounted a late rally in the eighth and loaded the bases with a single and two walks off third baseman-turned-reliever Bobby Dalbec. Despite solid contact into shallow right field, Zach Gibbons robbed Kekai Rios of the RBI and halted UH's comeback bid.

Hatch (3-7) took the loss in his final outing, going 5.1 innings with seven hits and three earned runs, striking out four.
Starter Nathan Bannister (9-2) went 7.0 innings in the win, allowing five hits and one run, striking out three.

At the plate, Marcus Doi and Josh Rojas each went 2-for-4, while Lopez added an RBI on 0-for-3 hitting. Ramirez was 1-for-3 with the run scored.
The 'Bows and Wildcats return to Les Murakami Stadium for the series and season finale, set for a 1:05 p.m. first pitch. Following Sunday's finale, UH will say aloha to 10 outgoing seniors during the televised Senior Day celebration.