HONOLULU – Behind sophomore Aaron Davenport's stellar start and center fielder Adam Fogel's four hit game, the University of Hawai'i baseball team started their home campaign out with a 12-1 win over Hawai'i Pacfic on Thursday night at Les Murakami Stadium. It was the first matchup between the two teams since 2006.
 
The Rainbow Warriors (2-2) started quick with a double from Scotty Scott to open the game. After falling behind 1-2, center fielder Adam Fogel took the pitch the other way for a two-run homer. For Fogel, that was his first home run since 2019. He finished the night 4-5 with three RBIs and a triple shy of the cycle which would have been the first since 1996.
 
Davenport had his way for most of the night as he racked up a career-best 13 strikeouts in his seven innings of one-run ball. He gave up five hits, including a home run, with one walk and a hit by pitch. Davenport ran into trouble twice, in the third and sixth innings respectively.
 
To start the third, the Sharks got a lead off double from second baseman Haydon Huff but Davenport quickly shut down their scoring chance by striking out the side.
 
In the bottom of the fourth, the Rainbow Warriors opened the floodgates with six runs to extend their lead to 8-0. After a fly out to start the half inning, Hawai'i loaded up the bases with two walks and a base hit. With the bases loaded, catcher Dallas Duarte doubled over the left fielder's head to clear the bases. Second baseman Aaron Ujimori then reached on a error by the pitcher which brought Duarte home. After a pitching change and a Scott hit by pitch, Fogel followed up with his third hit and third RBI of the day. The scoring came to an end on shortstop Kole Kaler's sacrifice fly, scoring Scott prior to Fogel getting thrown out at second.
 
The Sharks got on the board in the sixth when right fielder Braxton Wehrle hit a solo home run to right. Davenport dialed up his 11th strikeout of the night to strand two runners to end the inning.
 
In the bottom half of the sixth, the Rainbow Warriors picked up four singles and a fielding error to score three more runs, padding their lead to 11-1.
 
Entering the game late, freshman Naighel Calderon tacked one more run to extend the lead to 12-1 on a RBI groundout after right fielder Tyler Best and Ujimori had singles to start the inning.
 
Redshirt freshman Trevor Ichimura made his Rainbow Warrior debut and threw two scoreless innings to close out the game. Ichimura, a transfer from Washington State, gave up one hit and struck out one.
 
Freshmen Blake Hiraki and Jared Quandt also made their collegiate debuts. Hiraki pinch hit in the eighth and struck out while Quandt came in to play right field in the ninth.
 
The teams will play again Friday at 6:35 p.m. HT for the second game of the four-game series. Sophomore Cade Halemanu will make his second start of the season against HPU's Brandon Peterson.