IRVINE, Calif. – Sophomore Aaron Davenport didn't get the run support to go with his six strikeouts, as the Hawai'i baseball team dropped the opening game of the four-game series to UC Irvine, 4-0 on Friday.
 
The Rainbow Warriors (11-4, 3-2 Big West) out-hit the Anteaters 7-5 and Davenport had a one-hitter going until the fifth inning, but UCI (11-7, 5-0 Big West) used three hits and a Hawai'i error to plate three runs in the fifth, all the Anteaters needed to take game one of the series. UCI hit a solo home run in the third inning. 
 
Freshman Jake Hymel threw three scoreless innings in relief of Davenport, allowing three baserunners on a single, a walk and a hit batsman. Hymel brought his season ERA down to 3.48 after striking out three over his 3.0 IP.
 
Sophomore Scotty Scott had the team's only extra-base hit and had two total hits in the game. Junior Kole Kaler also had two hits.
 
Hawai'i didn't strike out a ton against the Anteaters, just six times on the day, a positive sight after striking out 38 times against Long Beach State, but were unable to capitalize on lead off base runners. A strike out double play, a line drive double play and untimely hitting kept the Bows off the scoreboard.
 
The shutout is the second-straight 4-0 shutout to the Anteaters in as many games against UCI, losing 4-0 to UCI in 2019 at home.
 
Hawai'i and UC Irvine will play two games against each other on Saturday. Sophomore Cade Halemanu will face off against Nick Pinto in the first game and freshman Austin Teixeira will go pitch for pitch with Michael Frias. The doubleheader is slated to start at 9 a.m. HT with the second game beginning 40 minutes after the conclusion of the first game.