IRVINE, Calif. – The Hawai'i baseball team got a solid effort on the mound from Itsuki Takemoto but couldn't capitalize on chances offensively in a 3-1 loss at No. 13 UC Irvine Friday.
 
Takemoto turned in a stellar two-way day, getting the start and holding the conference's top offense to just a run on four hits over six innings with three strikeouts. He also helped lead the way offensively going 3-for-4 with a double starting in the cleanup spot.
 
The Anteater trio of Riley Kelly, Ricky Ojeda and Max Martin combined to keep the UH bats off balance all night. Kelly went the first 4.2 and limited Hawai'I to its one run while working around five hits and five walks. Ojeda got the win going the next 3.1 innings with four strikeouts before Max Martin came in and got the save with a scoreless ninth.
 
The two teams traded runs in the fourth and fifth innings to get the scoring started. After an RBI groundout put UCI on the board in the fourth, the 'Bows responded in the fifth to tie things up. Matthew Miura came through with one of his career-high tying four hits one a shot to the gap in left center with one out to score Konnor Palmeira all the way from first, making it 1-1.
 
The Anteaters took the lead for good in the bottom of the seventh when a pair of walks put two runners on, and with two outs, Anthony Martinez delivered a seeing-eye single through the right side to make it 2-1. Frankie Carney added an insurance run for UCI in the eighth with a two-out single to make it 3-1.
 
Hawai'i had a chance to respond, putting runners on the corners with one out in the eighth but UH got a runner caught in a rundown between third and home and a strikeout to end the frame.
 
The two teams play game two of the series Friday beginning at 3 p.m. HT.