HONOLULU – Although the San José State Spartans (9-12) kept the pressure on University of Hawai'i (13-8) baseball throughout Friday night's non-conference tilt at Les Murakami Stadium, the Rainbow Warriors consistently responded in-kind and held on for the 8-7 win.
 
The Spartans quickly capitalized on UH miscues in the first inning. The game's leadoff batter, Kyle Morrison reached on an infield error, coming around for the score just three batters later on a Kyle Blakeman RBI single. The Spartans also added a second score on a David Campbell sacrifice fly.
 
Back-to-back home half singles from Johnny Weeks and Kekai Rios set up a timely Hawai'i response, as third baseman Josh Rojas followed with a two-run triple to the right center alley. Left fielder Adam Fogel capped the inning with a sacrifice fly for the 3-2 Rainbow Warriors lead.
 
However, the Spartans rattled off three unanswered runs across the second and third innings to push ahead 5-3.
 
With one big inning, the Rainbow Warriors swung the momentum back in their favor. Designated hitter Ethan Lopez sparked Hawai'i with a one-out double in the fourth, quickly coming home on a Dustin Demeter RBI double. Rios followed with an RBI single and Fogel capped the frame with a two-run single up the middle, granting the 'Bows a 7-5 advantage.
 
The 'Bows tacked up an insurance run in the bottom of the fifth, with Weeks bringing Lopez home on an RBI single for UH's eighth run.
 
That spare run would come in handy as the Spartans battled back against middle reliever Colin Ashworth (3.1 innings), scoring a run in consecutive innings to trim the UH lead to one run. Taking over for his first career save, Matt Richardson came in and held the Spartans scoreless on two hits. The junior struck out three and combined with the UH defense to preserve the Ashworth (1-0) win, including the final frame 7-3-2 outfield assist to get the game-winning out at the plate.
 
At the plate, Fogel provided another solid performance against the Spartans, adding a 3-for-3 outing with three RBI to make his totals on the week 7-for-8. Rios and Lopez both hit 2-for-4 with two runs scored, while Rios also added an RBI.
 
With the 2-0 series lead, the Rainbow Warriors return to action against the Spartans on Saturday at Les Murakami Stadium. First pitch for game three is set for 6:35 p.m.