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HONOLULU – The University of Hawai'i Rainbow Warriors baseball team (19-24, 8-9 Big West) engaged Long Beach State (27-18, 10-7 Big West) in the longest UH game in 11 years on Saturday at Les Murakami Stadium, but it was the Dirtbags that went the distance, pulling out the 11-4 win after a big 12th inning output.

The early going proved to be a back-and-forth battle for the upper hand that pushed the game into extra innings, as each team came up with clutch plays to set the table.

After a perfect opening frame by starter Alex Hatch, the Dirtbags got to him for one run, after three consecutive two-out hits sent Luke Rasmussen to the plate on the Joey Sanchez RBI single in the second.

While freshman designated hitter Ethan Lopez got the 'Bows started in the bottom of the third hitting a high-bouncing shot up the middle, Josh Rojas followed with another infield single. Matt LoCoco finished off the play looping an RBI single over the left side to tie the game at 1-1.

The Dirtbags again broke up four consecutive shutout innings in the top of the sixth, sparked by a Brock Lundquist leadoff double. Catcher Davis Banuelos followed with an RBI single up the middle and Dominic Colacchio added an RBI groundout after a pitching change sent Cody Culp to the mound in relief.
The 'Bows chipped away at the LBSU lead in the bottom of the seventh, as Lopez capitalized on a Marcus Doi walk with an RBI triple, trimming the deficit to 3-2.

Although the Dirtbags added an insurance run in the ninth, Lopez again got UH started, drawing a full count walk. Entering as a pinch hitter, Connor Linebarger followed with a single punched into center field and Rojas added an RBI on a single of his own. LoCoco capped off the frame with an RBI single into outer left field, sending Linebarger to the plate for the tie run.

Across the next two frames, the struggle was on for the advantage, but it was Long Beach State who got to reliever Kyle Mitchell in the 12th, putting up seven runs on four hits, capped by Garrett Nelson's three-run homer to right field for the final margin, at an 11-4 lead.

In the process, the game extended to 4:54, the second longest game in UH history.

Mitchell (1-1) took the loss for Hawai'i, giving seven hits on four runs while pitching the 12th.

Closing out the final 3.1 innings of action for LBSU, Ty Provencher (2-2) picked up the win, giving one hit and one walk, while striking out three.

At the plate, Lopez went a career-best 3-for-4 with two runs and an RBI, while Rojas was 3-for-4 with an RBI. LoCoco finished 3-for-6 with two RBI on the long night.

The teams return to Les Murakami Stadium for the rubber match on Sunday at 1:05 p.m.


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