HONOLULU – Down by three headed into the fifth inning, the Hawai'i baseball team scored five unanswered runs highlighted by a four-run sixth to take the series opener against UC Davis, 5-3, Thursday at Les Murakami Stadium.
Matt Wong got the 'Bows on the board in the fifth with a two-out RBI single before UH broke out for four in the sixth to take the lead.
Kyson Donahue led off the frame with a solo shot out to center field to cut the deficit to one, before a base hit and walk put two on with two outs.
Stone Miyao tied it up on a hustle play, coming around to score all the way from second on an error by the UCD shortstop, and
Dallas Duarte gave Hawai'i the lead one batter later with a two-run double to right center to make it 5-3.
The 'Bows then handed the ball to
Harrison Bodendorf to start the seventh, and the freshman worked around a couple of baserunners in the frame before setting the Aggies down in order in the eighth and striking out a pair in the ninth to earn his second save.
The Aggies got on the board four batters into the game when Jack Gallagher blasted an opposite-field two-run homer out to right field to make it 2-0. UCD extended its lead to 3-0 in the fifth when Damian Stone drove in a run with single to right, scoring a runner from second on a close play at the plate.
Harry Gustin turned in a quality start on the mound, tossing six innings and striking out six while allowing three runs on six hits to earn his third win of the year. Bodendorf closed things out with three shutout innings, striking out four to pick up his second save of the season. In the last 13 home games, UH pitching has an ERA of 2.38 while holding opponents to three or fewer runs 10 times in that stretch.
Donahue turned in a multi-hit game, going 2-for-4 with his team-leading seventh homer of the year while Miyao was 2-for-3 with a run scored. Duarte delivered the 10th go-ahead hit by a Rainbow Warrior in the sixth inning or later this year in a win with his double in the sixth, as UH played its 14th game decided by three or fewer runs in its 22 Big West games.
The 'Bows and Aggies will play game two of their series Friday at 6:35 p.m. at Les Murakami Stadium.
Randy Abshier (4-2, 4.03) is set to start for UH while UC Davis will counter with Kaden Hogan (2-1, 3.86).
