HONOLULU – Overcoming an early deficit with clutch hitting, the University of Hawai'i (7-5) baseball team used a full team effort to pull past Northeast Conference foe Sacred Heart (5-7) in the series opener on Thursday night at Les Murakami Stadium. With the 6-3 win, the Rainbow Warriors maintained their momentum to win their sixth in the last seven games.
 
The Pioneers were able to get to starter Dominic DeMiero early in Thursday's contest – the first team to drive runs on the sophomore lefty so early. Left fielder Anthony Capozziello put Sacred Heart on the board in the second with an RBI double to the wall for the first run of the night, quickly scoring himself on a Cody Doyle RBI single lifted just over third base for the 2-0 advantage.
 
Although Hawai'i still trailed, the Rainbow Warriors battled back in the bottom half of the frame. Center fielder Dylan Vchulek not only produced the 'Bows first hit of the night in the first, the junior also supplied Hawai'i's first run of the night, bringing home third baseman Josh Rojas on the RBI single up the middle.
 
Capozziello struck again for the Pioneers in the fourth, extending the lead back to two runs with an RBI double to left field, pushing the SHU lead out to 3-1.
 
This time when the Rainbow Warriors responded, it was for the game. Johnny Weeks singled with a high leadoff chopper to third base, getting things started in the home half. Rookie first baseman Logan Pouelsen knotted the score, blasting the first pitch he saw to right field for a career-first two-run homer – the first home run hit by Hawai'i at home this season.
 
The shot shook SHU starter James Taubl, who loaded the bases with consecutive hit batters. Designated hitter Ethan Lopez capitalized, firing an RBI shot through the left side, pressing Marcus Doi across the plate for the go-ahead run.
 
After reaching as a hit batter, Josh Rojas reached third on a pickoff error and tacked up an insurance run in the fifth on a Weeks sacrifice fly. Although the Pioneers limited the UH scoring across the next two frames, UH created some cushion in the eighth with Vchulek scoring on a Dustin Demeter RBI groundout for the 6-3 advantage.
 
Though Sacred Heart forced the earliest DeMiero (3-0) exit of the year at 5.2 innings, the southpaw starter picked up the win after shutout relief efforts by Matt Richardson and Patrick Martin; with Martin earning his second save on 1.1 hitless innings. DeMiero scattered nine hits and three runs, striking out one batter with no walks.
 
On a big-hitting night for the Rainbow Warriors that produced 13 base knocks, Vchulek led the way with a season-best 3-for-4 hitting performance, registering one run and one RBI. Eight UH batters collected hits with Kekai Rios going 3-for-5, while Weeks was 2-for-3 with a run and an RBI.
 
UH now has tallied at least 11 hits in four of the last five outings.
 
The Rainbow Warriors and Pioneers return to action on Friday night at Les Murakami Stadium for the second contest in the four-game series. First pitch is slated for 6:35 p.m.