HONOLULU – Trailing by three runs heading into the ninth, the Hawai'i baseball team rallied in its final at-bat but came up just short in a 5-4 loss Sunday, dropping the series.
 
Will Bowen led off the ninth inning with a pinch-hit, solo homer to right field to cut the deficit to 5-2. The 'Bows then loaded the bases with a pair of singles and a walk before Jared Quandt delivered a two-out, two-run single to pull Hawai'i within a run. The game ended with a strikeout later, however, snapping UH's streak of nine consecutive home series victories.
 
The loss also ended the Rainbow Warriors' streak of 11 consecutive Sunday home wins that dated back to last year while dropping their first Sunday home game this year.
 
UH got on the board first for the second consecutive day when Ben Zeigler-Namoa ripped a one-out single to right field to make it 1-0 in the first.
 
However, for the second consecutive day the Dirtbags took advantage of some Hawai'i miscues to score three runs in the third to take the lead. UH committed two errors in the inning as the first run came across on a fielder's choice and the go-ahead runs came in on an error, making it 3-1.
 
Cooper Walls started on the mound for the Rainbow Warriors and went 4.2 innings giving up three runs – none of them earned – on four hits with three strikeouts. Sebastian Gonzalez continued his recent stretch of strong pitching, going 3.1 hitless innings with two strikeouts. Since moving to the bullpen, Gonzalez has worked 16.0 scoreless innings with 11 strikeouts over five appearances.
 
The Rainbow Warriors begin a two-week, eight-game road trip on Tuesday at Santa Clara. First pitch is set for 3 p.m. HT.