HONOLULU – The University of Hawai'i baseball team (14-8) made the most of timely hitting in Sunday's finale against Seton Hall (9-11-1), using the long ball to push past the Pirates to a 2-2 split in the series.
 
However, the series-tying victory didn't come without challenges. The first pitch from UH starter Neil Uskali found its way beyond the left field wall with help from second baseman Rob Dadona on a solo home run. Although the pirates produced four first-inning hits, the solo shot was the only one for the scoreboard.
 
Uskali settled in after a couple of rocky innings, retiring 11 consecutive Seton Hall batters into the sixth inning to keep the Pirates at bay.
 
In the meantime, first baseman Eric Ramirez chopped an RBI groundout deep to the shortstop, plating catcher Chayce Ka'aua, who reached base in the second on a leadoff double – the first 'Bows hit. Claiming the lead with a single swing of the bat, third baseman Kekai Rios drilled a solo home run into left center in the fourth.
 
After Mike Alescio knotted things up while scoring on a sixth-inning fielding error, right fielder Adam Fogel lifted a solo home run, again to left center, pulling the Rainbow Warriors ahead with a 3-2 advantage.
 
Picking up after Uskali, Logan Pouelsen carried the 'Bows through the eighth with two hits and two strikeouts, while closer Dylan Thomas fanned a pair of Pirates to earn his sixth save. On the night, Uskali allowed one earned run on six hits and a walk, striking out six in six innings.
 
Rios and Fogel each batted 1-for-3 on the night.
 
The Rainbow Warriors next head to the mainland for the Big West opener, kicking off a three-game series at UC Irvine on Thursday. The 'Bows (14-8) and Anteaters (12-10) are 1-2 in the Big West standings. UCI faces Loyola Marymount on Tuesday before starting the series with UH. The first two games in Irvine will be broadcast on ESPN3.