BAKERSFIELD, Calif.  – The University of Hawai'i baseball team (20-13, 6-3 BWC) came up short on a late-inning road rally at CSU Bakersfield (14-21) on Wednesday night at Hardt Field.
 
The Rainbow warriors scored first and outhit the Roadrunners, but seven runners left aboard proved costly as Hawai'i fell in a one-run defeat in its final non-series game on the non-conference schedule.
 
Although it was a short burst for the 'Bows, Maaki Yamazaki wasted no time in getting the UH offense moving, roping a first-inning leadoff single through the right side. His move to second facilitated senior left fielder Johnny Weeks' place in the UH record book, surpassing Michael Dartt (1996-99) as the all-time career sac bunts leader at 41. With Yamazaki in scoring position, designated hitter Logan Pouelsen made it a 1-0 game on an RBI double shot down the first baseline.
 
However, in the second inning against starter Cade Smith, CSUB was able to knot the score on Luis Martinez' solo home run to left field. A two-run, two-out double by Andrew Penner in the third. However, Martinez got the 'Bows for another dinger off reliever Brody Hagel-Pitt, stretching the advantage to 4-1 with what would prove to be the key score.
 
The Rainbow Warriors battled back with a sixth-inning two-run homer from third baseman Ethan Lopez, but Hawai'i's rally came up short despite the bullpen four key blank frames in the 4-3 road loss.
 
Reliever Jeremy Yelland (1-2) took the loss on one inning of action.
 
At the plate, Yamazaki reached base three times, batting 2-for-3 with one run. Lopez was 1-for-4, but it was a big one, with the two-run homer.
 
The Rainbow Warriors remain in California, but travel 140 miles southeast for a huge Big West series with conference implications at stake, facing Cal State Fullerton (17-18, 4-2 BWC) in a three-game set at Goodwin Field, Friday-Sunday.