BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – The Hawai'i baseball team took a one-run lead into the ninth inning but couldn't hang on in a 3-2 loss in the series finale at Cal State Bakersfield Sunday.
The Rainbow Warriors still come home with a series win on the opening weekend of Big West play after taking Friday and Saturday's games.
After
Itsuki Takemoto retired the leadoff batter in the bottom of the ninth, the next batter doubled down the right field line to chase Takemoto and bring in
Harrison Bodendorf. After a walk, another double to right field drove in the tying run before Matthew Kurata delivered the game-winner on an RBI single to right center.
For the third straight game the 'Bows got on the board first, scoring their only two runs of the game in the third inning.
Ben Zeigler-Namoa reached on an error and
Jake Tsukada singled to lead off the frame before
Jordan Donahue plated Zeigler-Namoa with an RBI groundout to make it 1-0.
Elijah Ickes drove in Tsukada one batter later with a sacrifice fly to give UH a 2-0 advantage.
Hawai'i had other opportunities to add on to its lead in the middle and late innings but was unable to cash in. In the fifth, the first to 'Bows reached but a fielder's choice on a bunt and two strikeouts ended the frame.
Matthew Miura singled with one out in the sixth and stole second and third but was thrown out at home on a failed suicide squeeze attempt while UH stranded two runners each in the seventh and ninth innings.
Bakersfield got on the board with a run in fifth inning while pitchers Kellen O'Connor and Gary Grosjean combined to hold UH to two runs on eight hits, setting the Roadrunners up for their walk-off in the ninth.
Connor Harrison gave the Rainbow Warriors a strong relief effort on the mound, entering to start the second inning and pitching three shutout frames while allowing just two hits. Tsukada led the way offensively, going 2-for-3 with a run scored and walk while
Dallas Duarte reached base in three of his four plate appearances, finishing 1-for-2 with two walks.
The Rainbow Warriors return home to host a nonconference series against old rival San Diego State, Friday through Sunday at Les Murakami Stadium.
