HONOLULU – Again the engineers of a come-from-behind win, the University of Hawai'i baseball team used a walk-off fielder's choice in the ninth inning to beat Oregon 7-6 on Saturday night in front of a sellout crowd of 4,410, the first since 2018. The win claimed the series for the Rainbow Warriors who now have a chance for a sweep on Sunday.
 
With the bases loaded and no outs, sophomore left fielder Tyler Best chopped a ground ball to short which was thrown home and dropped by the Oregon catcher to allow redshirt junior Adam Fogel to score the winning run.
 
Hawai'i (11-5) had trailed Oregon (7-7) for much of the game, giving up five runs through the first five innings, but used a two run fifth inning and a four-run seventh to take the lead.
 
The Rainbow Warriors out-hit the Ducks the entire game but saw Oregon capitalize on walks and hit batters to take the 5-0 lead before the Rainbow Warriors crossed the plate.
 
Junior center fielder Matt Wong had arguably his best game of the season clubbing two triples and drove in the the go-ahead run in the seventh.
 
Sophomore right fielder Scotty Scott had his second multi-hit game in a row and also added an RBI. Scott now has multiple hits in three of the last four games.
 
Hawai'i didn't score until the bottom of the fifth inning when the Rainbow Warriors got a lead-off baserunner in sophomore catcher Dallas Duarte and back-to-back singles from freshman second baseman Stone Miyao and Scott. A sacrifice fly from junior shortstop Kole Kaler brought in the second run.
 
Scott led off the seventh inning with a hit by pitch and moved to third on a single by Kaler. An RBI ground out by redshirt junior third baseman Dustin Demeter brough Scott in to score.
 
Senior designated hitter Brennen Hancock was then plunked and pinch ran for by freshman Naighel Calderon. A double by redshirt junior first baseman Alex Baeza past the diving glove of the Oregon first baseman scored Kaler from second and Calderon sliding in under the tag to tie the game.
 
Wong's second triple of the game plated Baeza from second and gave the Rainbow Warriors the lead.
 
Junior Brandon Ross had his shortest outing as a Rainbow Warrior. Facing four batters and not recording an out. Junior Cade Smith came in to pitch to strand the bases loaded in the first inning. Smith pitched a season-high six innings and struck out a career-high nine.
 
Freshman Tai Atkins is scheduled to get his first collegiate start on Sunday against Oregon. First pitch is set for 1:05 p.m. HT from Les Murakami Stadium.