HONOLULU – Behind a stellar combined effort on the mound and more timely hitting, the Hawai'i baseball team finished off a series win over Wichita State with a 7-1 victory Sunday at Les Murakami Stadium.
 
Liam O'Brien and Freddy Rodriguez combined on a one-hitter with nine strikeouts while holding the Shockers to just one unearned run. The one-hitter marked the first time since May 2, 2014 vs. NYIT that UH pitching has held an opponent to just one hit. The Rainbow Warriors scored four of their seven runs with two outs and hit 4-for-8 with runners in scoring position in another clutch offensive effort.
 
UH's 7-1 start is the program's best through eight games since 2003 (7-1) while the win gives the Rainbow Warriors 23 victories in the last 25 games dating back to April 21 of last year. The 'Bows have also now won seven consecutive Sunday home games going back to last season.
 
O'Brien held the Shockers hitless over 5.1 innings in his first start as a Rainbow Warrior, fanning six while giving up just one unearned run. The one run came off the only Shocker hit of the game – a base hit in the sixth inning off UH reliever Freddy Rodriguez. Rodriguez would shut the door for the final three innings, working 3.2 innings with three strikeouts to earn the save.
 
For just the second time all season the Rainbow Warriors struck first, scoring a pair of runs in the third inning. After a couple of walks put two on with two out, Elijah Ickes laced a double into the left center gap to plate both runners and make it 2-0.
 
Draven Nushida drove in a run each in the fourth and sixth innings sandwiched around a Shocker run to give UH a 4-1 lead after six innings.
 
The 'Bows busted things open with three runs in the seventh to take a 7-1 lead. Xaige Lancaster delivered a sacrifice fly before Jared Quandt delivered a two-out RBI double and Kamana Nahaku followed one batter later with a run-scoring single to cap off the scoring.
 
On the weekend, Hawai'i 11 of its 19 runs with two outs in an inning while hitting .324 (12-for-37) with runners in scoring position. Ben Zeigler-Namoa led the team in hitting over the weekend, batting .462 with a homer and three RBIs while posting a .588 on-base percentage.
 
The Rainbow Warriors open a four-game series against Northeastern Friday at 6:35 p.m. at Les Murakami Stadium.