HONOLULU – The University of Hawai'i (16-8) baseball team battled back from an early deficit with a three-inning, 12-run offensive outburst to secure the 12-5 series-opening victory over Nevada (7-19), Thursday night at Les Murakami Stadium.
 
The Wolf Pack made their offensive presence known first, capitalizing on a Grant Fennell leadoff single in the top of the third, converting for a safety squeeze and the 1-0 lead on Justin Bridgman's sacrifice bunt. The Wolf Pack also caught fire in the fourth, building up a 4-0 lead off an RBI double, a bunt single and a sacrifice fly.
 
Facing a four-run deficit, the Rainbow Warriors woke the bats and strung together a five-hit frame to escalate their offense in short order. Reigning Big West Player of the Week Adam Fogel led off with an outfield single and came home two pitches later, as Eric Ramirez put UH on the board with an RBI single. Dustin Demeter showed great discipline in drawing the perfect full count pitch for a two-run single. The tie run quickly followed, as Logan Pouelsen hustled home from third on a wild pitch from Nevada starter Trevor Charpie.
 
Ending Charpie's night and pushing the 'Bows ahead to close the fourth, Kekai Rios fired an arching double deep into right field for two runs, scoring Demeter and Dylan Vchulek.
 
Despite giving the four early runs, starter Brendan Hornung delivered a crucial blank frame to follow in the fifth, also blanking the Wolf Pack in the sixth.
 
However, Nevada reliever Grant Ford was not as fortunate in the fifth, as the 'Bows tacked up four more runs to hit double-digit scoring for the fourth time this season – also the second straight game. After two walks and a hit batter, two runners crossed the plate on a Demeter RBI single deep to right field, while Vchulek sent two more home on a bullet down the right field line, pushing UH ahead 10-4.
 
Pouelsen put the icing on a 14-hit series opener, blasting a two-run homer to right field to extend the Hawai'i lead to eight runs – his second jack of the season.
 
Although the Wolf Pack added a run in the seventh, the damage was already done. Reliever Kyle Mitchell took over in the eighth and secured the 12-5 series-opening victory with no hits and four strikeouts, extending the Rainbow Warriors' win streak to six consecutive victories.
 
Hornung (3-2) earned the victory, throwing 7.0 innings with five runs allowed on 10 hits, striking out five strikeouts.
 
All nine starters notched a base hit in Thursday's opener. Demeter paced the Rainbow Warriors with a 2-for-4, two-run and three RBI performance. Alex Fitchett went 2-for-3 with three runs and Pouelsen was 1-for-2 with two RBI and three runs.
 
The Rainbow Warriors and Wolf Pack return to action in the second game of the series on Friday at Les Murakami Stadium. First pitch is slated for 6:35 p.m.