HONOLULU – The Hawai'i baseball team dropped a pitcher's duel, 1-0, in game three against Ball State on Saturday night at a sold-out Les Murakami Stadium.
 
Ball State's Brendan Garza went the distance on the mound, throwing a complete-game shutout. Garza allowed just two hits over nine innings while striking out five to earn the win for the Cardinals. Ball State scored the game's only run in the second inning on a Ryan Muizelaar RBI single to right field.
 
UH starter Brody Martin-Grudzielanek struck out five over 3.2 innings of work. Grant Garman followed with three strong innings in relief, striking out three and escaping a bases-loaded jam in the fifth to keep the Rainbow Warriors within one. Tsubasa Tomii added two strikeouts over 1.1 innings, and John Alkire II pitched a perfect ninth inning.
 
Despite the loss, Hawai'i's pitching staff continued to shine in the series. The Rainbow Warriors have thrown 27 innings while striking out 38 Cardinal batters and allowing one earned run through three games. On the season, UH's team ERA is down to 2.76 while the 'Bows have struck out 116 batters while walking just 33 over 101.0 innings.
 
Hawai'i returns to action Sunday at 1:05 p.m. as they look to secure their second series of the season.