HONOLULU – The University of Hawai'i baseball team needed to come from behind to top Hawai'i-Hilo for the second time in as many days on Saturday at Les Murakami Stadium when the Rainbow Warriors topped the Vulcans 6-4.
 
"It was a good weekend," Hawai'i head coach Mike Trapasso said. "I'm pleased with the maturity we displayed in two close games.
 
"We have to get better in some phases, of course, but I think we showed signs of the type of pitching, defense and execution that can win games."
 
The first three innings of the game on Saturday looked eerily similar to Friday night but with the Rainbow Warriors striking first.
 
Just like on Friday night, sophomore Scotty Scott led off the game for the Bows getting hit by a pitch. Junior Kole Kaler started his three-hit day with a double into the right field corner moving Scott to third which allowed redshirt Dustin Demeter to pick up his fourth RBI of the season with a sac fly to left.
 
The Vulcans took the lead in the second inning with three hits, two of which were doubles.
 
Hawai'i tied the game in the third inning via a throwing error by the Vulcans, a bunt single a ground out and another sacrifice fly, this time from redshirt junior Adam Fogel scoring Best.
 
The Bows retook the lead in the fourth inning when junior Matt Wong led off the inning with a double to shallow left field. A single from redshirt junior Alex Baeza moved Wong to third before a sacrifice bunt from sophomore Dallas Duarte scored Wong from third.
 
The score stayed 3-2 until the seventh inning when Hilo's Jaryn Canbarra hit a two-run home run to left.
 
The Vulcans held the lead for a short time because the Bows came out swinging after the seventh inning stretch.
 
Scott doubled to right on a 0-1 count before Kaler picked up his second hit of the game on a single through the left side. Kaler then stole second to put two in scoring position. Fogel picked up another RBI on his second sacrifice fly of the day scoring Scott.
 
Demeter slugged his fourth extra-base hit of the season with a triple into the right-center gap to score Kaler easily. Wong then singled to score Demeter to put Hawai'i up by two runs.
 
Hawai'i's starting pitcher, sophomore Aaron Davenport lasted three innings, striking out four before giving way for junior Cade Smith. Smith threw four innings in relief, striking out two without allowing a walk. Smith earned the win exiting at the end of the seventh inning when the Bows led 6-4.
 
In his collegiate debut, freshman Vince Reilly earned the save by throwing two innings and facing the minimum on just 12 pitches.
 
Hawai'i stays at Les Murakami Stadium to take on North Dakota State in a four-game series Feb. 14-17. The opener is slated for 6:35 p.m. HT from LMS with the final three games scheduled for 1:05 p.m. first pitches.