FULLERTON, Calif. – A National Player of the Week performance from redshirt junior
Dustin Demeter was bolstered with another four-hit game and his third home run in less than 24 hours as the University of Hawai'i baseball team cruised to a, 8-2 win over Cal State Fullerton (18-21, 11-9 Big West) on Sunday, winning the final three games to win the series. Hawai'i won its third series over Cal State Fullerton since joining the Big West Conference and its first series win since 2016.
Demeter, who was 7-14 going into the game with eight RBI, two doubles and two home runs added another home run, two more doubles and six more RBI. Demeter has six RBI in back-to-back games and finished the series going 11-19 with 14 RBI, three home runs, and four RBI.
For the fourth-straight game in the series, Hawai'i (23-15, 15-13 Big West) scored first. Shortstop
Kole Kaler started the day with a triple and crossed home on an RBI ground out by right fielder
Scotty Scott. Demeter picked up his first hit of the day with a two-out single in the first inning.
Demeter drove in his first run of the game in the third inning. After Scott singled and advanced to second on a passed ball, Demeter hit his first double of the game to score Scott.
In the fifth inning, Demeter hit his third home run in less than 24 hours with a two-run home run to right field.
With the bases loaded in the sixth inning, Demeter hit his second double of the game, clearing the bases, sending the small spattering of Rainbow Warrior fans and the Hawai'i dugout into pandemonium.
Previously in the inning Scott had been hit by a pitch but was not awarded first base immediately. After an argument from head coach
Mike Trapasso, Scott was awarded first base, but the Hawai'i players and fans, with their frustrations from Friday night still lingering, were waiting for the final dagger. Demeter's double did just that.
Staying even-keel the entire game, senior
Logan Pouelsen turned in the team's fourth-consecutive start with eight-plus strikeouts. Pouelsen matched his 2018 complete game with a 9.0 inning complete game which included eight strikeouts and no walks.
Pouelsen ended with a final line of 9.0 IP, seven hits, two runs, eight strikeouts and zero walks.
Hawai'i will hope the hot bats and pitching don't cool during their bye week May 7-9 before going back on the road to play at CSUN May 14-16.