HONOLULU – After a promising offensive start to the series, the bats cooled for the University of Hawai'i baseball team (12-8) on Saturday in the second game of the series, as Seton Hall (9-9-1) handed the Rainbow Warriors a 5-1 loss to finish out a very long day at Les Murakami Stadium.
 
The day began an hour and a half early than planned, as the teams resumed Friday's series opener, which was suspended for heavy rains. In that the continuation, the Rainbow Warriors knotted things up, but the closers dueled into extra innings before the Pirates notched the go-ahead run in the 11th.
 
Escaping a first-inning scoring threat, starter Dominic DeMiero nearly again evaded danger in the third, dishing out back-to-back strikeouts with the bases loaded. However, Nick Dabrio squared a shot into left field to put the Pirates on the board; the 'Bows saved from more runs by a Johnny Weeks throw to the plate for the final out of the third.
 
The Rainbow Warriors responded in kind, with shortstop Maaki Yamazaki scoring in the home half on an error ball smacked by Logan Pouelsen to knot the game.
 
However, Seton Hall utilized consecutive bunt base hits to grab a two-run lead in the fourth, courtesy of a Connor Hood triple into the right center alley before UH could collect three straight hits to end the frame. The Pirates tacked up their third straight scoring inning with a two-out RBI single from Tyler Shedler-McAvoy in the fifth.
 
Enter right-handed reliever Matt Richardson from the bullpen. The senior threw a career-high four innings with a career-best four strikeouts, checking the Pirates completely for three consecutive innings. However, the Pirates were able to tack up an insurance run in the ninth, scoring unearned on an errant throw.
 
Although the Rainbow Warriors mounted a ninth-inning rally, the tie run finished the night in the on-deck circle, as Seton Hall moved to 2-0 in the series while doling out the 5-1 UH loss.
 
The Rainbow Warriors and Pirates return to Les Murakami for the third game of the series on Sunday, with first pitch scheduled for 1:05 p.m.