NASHVILLE, Tenn. – A day after managing two hits, the University of Hawai'i baseball team knocked off the defending national champions, Vanderbilt, 3-1 on Saturday. The win marked the first time the Rainbow Warriors had beaten a top-five ranked team since 2013 when Hawai'i beat Cal State Fullerton on April 26.
 
The Rainbow Warriors (8-4) tallied nine hits in the game, hit two doubles and received solid performances out of the bullpen in the win. Vanderbilt (9-3) managed six hits in the game and stranded eight.
 
Hawai'i starter Aaron Davenport struck out six in his 6.0 innings of work but almost didn't last that long when his pitch count through two innings was upward of 50 pitches. The sophomore threw 58 pitches the next four innings to finish with a total of 109, tying a career-high. Davenport earned his third win of the season, tying his 2019 win total in just his fourth start of the year.
 
Juniors Kole Kaler and Matt Wong each had two-hit days, each with a double as well. Kaler pushed his batting average back above .410 with his 2-3 day.
 
Hawai'i manufactured a run in the first inning in typical Rainbow Warrior fashion after a lead-off walk to sophomore outfielder Scotty Scott came around to score. Scott moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Kaler and scored on redshirt junior third baseman Dustin Demeter's first hit of the game.
 
The Rainbow Warriors scored a second run in the sixth inning when Kaler led off the inning with a drive into the right field corner for a stand-up double. Demeter moved Kaler to third and scored on redshirt junior Adam Fogel's laser single off the Vanderbilt second baseman's glove.
 
Vanderbilt plated a run in the seventh inning via a single, stolen base and a second single.
 
Hawai'i tacked on the insurance run in ninth inning when sophomore left fielder Tyler Best singled with one out and senior pinch hitter Brennen Hancock followed with his first hit of the year. A single to right field by Wong scored Best to make it 3-1 Hawai'i.
 
Redshirt junior Carter Loewen got fired up in the eighth inning when he stranded All-American Austin Martin, who represented the tying run, at third base with his second strikeout of the eighth inning. Loewen was spectacular in the ninth inning, only needing five pitches to end the game.
 
Hawai'i and Vanderbilt will meet for the rubber match Sunday at 8 a.m. HT. Junior Brandon Ross will get the ball for the Rainbow Warriors.