LONG BEACH, Calif.  – After keeping things within striking distance the entire way, the University of Hawai'i baseball team (26-20, 8-11 BWC) came up short on a ninth-inning rally on the road against No. 7 Long Beach State (33-16-1, 16-3 BWC), Friday at Blair Field.
 
With each squad's ace pitted in the series opener, UH's Brendan Hornung and LBSU's Darren McCaughan squared off in a pitcher's duel, each tossing eight innings for their respective teams.
 
Leading the Big West with a .277 average, the Dirtbags wasted no time in reaching the scoreboard on their home turf, as Jarren Duran set the table with a leadoff triple in the first inning. Although Daniel Jackson followed up with an RBI single, the 'Bows limited the damage, allowing only a 1-0 first frame.
 
Long Beach State was able to extend its lead in the bottom of the fourth, as Garrett Nelson's RBI single brought home Brock Lundquist from third for the two-run advantage.
 
Although the scoreboard was blank for the Rainbow Warriors heading into the final frame, Hawai'i had ample opportunities, nearly matching LBSU in hits, but the Dirtbags' tough defense shut down each push, stranding seven UH runners.
 
With one final shot on the line, the 'Bows broke the shutout in the top of the ninth, as senior right fielder Alex Fitchett crushed a two-out, two-run home run beyond the 395-foot wall in center field, drawing the LBSU advantage to a single run. However, closer Chris Rivera earned his ninth save via a three-pitch strikeout to secure the 2-1 Dirtbags win.
 
Hornung (6-5) went 8.0 innings deep and recovered well from the early runs, scattering nine hits with five strikeouts and just a single walk. McCaughan (8-2) kept the 'Bows off the board in spite of nine hits, striking out eight with two walks.
 
Fitchett showed up strong for the series opener, not only drilling the lone score on his fifth homer of the year, but hitting 3-for-4 on the evening. Dustin Demeter also hit 2-for-4 with a double.
 
The Rainbow Warriors and Dirtbags will continue the series on Saturday at Blair Field. First pitch is slated for 11:00 a.m. HT (2:00 p.m. PT).