LONG BEACH, Calif. – The University of Hawai'i baseball team picked up their first conference win victory 6-3 against Long Beach State in a Sunday matinee game at Blair Field.
 
The Rainbow Warriors (7-12. 1-2) showed a different side of the offense, with multiple home runs giving them the edge they needed to avoid being swept. The Dirtbags have a day off before they face off against Fresno State, who UH secured a win off earlier this year.
 
In the first, sophomore third baseman Aaron Ujimori drew a leadoff walk. A single and another walk loaded the bases. With graduate center field Cole Cabrera at the plate, he managed to draw another walk to get the first run across, taking a 1-0 lead after one.
 
Second baseman Stone Miyao legged out a bunt in the second sophomore and advanced to second on a throwing error. UH played their signature small ball and dropped a sacrifice bunt to move him over. The next batter, Ujimori, grounded out, bringing across the game's second run.
 
UH kept the runs coming when sophomore right fielder Matt Wong barreled one up to dead center for his second dinger of the series and extended the lead 3-0.
 
After a quiet fourth inning, junior left fielder Scotty Scott doubled down the left-field line before being moved over to third by junior catcher Dallas Duarte singled to center. With two runners on, first baseman Jacob Igawa had the green light and blasted a no-doubter to left field, growing the lead 6-0 going into the bottom of the fifth.
 
Long Beach State finally got on the board in the bottom of the sixth, as the UH bullpen found trouble for the second day in a row. Junior reliever Cameron Hagan came on with the bases loaded and managed to get out of the jam as UH gave back two runs.
 
The Dirtbags threatened in the eighth, managing to score one and leave another on base.
 
Freshman reliever Cory Ronan came on in the ninth with a 6-3 lead, shut the door, and grabbed his first save.
 
In his five innings of work, Buddie Pindel improved to 2-1 on the year. He allowed three hits, struck out three, and gave up no runs.
 
Duarte led the Warriors with three hits, while Igawa's three-run homer helped him lead the team with three RBIs.
 
The Rainbow Warriors return to the island for a three-game set with UC Irvine beginning Friday, Mar. 25 at 6:35 pm HT.