HONOLULU – Powered by a pair of big innings and a strong collective effort from the pitching staff, the Hawai'i baseball team routed in-state rival Hawai'i Hilo, 11-3, on Wednesday night at Les Murakami Stadium.
The victory gave the Rainbow Warriors their 10th consecutive win over Hawai'i Hilo in the 139th all-time meeting between the two programs. The win also moved Hawai'i just two victories away from reaching the historic milestone of 1,000 all-time wins at Les Murakami Stadium.
After Hawai'i Hilo (16-27) struck first with an Aaron Rapoza RBI single in the top of the second inning, the 'Bows immediately answered with a massive five-run bottom half. With the bases loaded, catcher
Kamaehu Sanchez delivered the biggest swing of the night, lacing a bases-clearing three-run double to left field to put Hawai'i in front for good.
Ben Zeigler-Namoa and
Christian Hoffman subsequently added an RBI single and a sacrifice fly, respectively, to cap the early offensive surge.
The Rainbow Warriors put the game out of reach with another major rally in the fourth inning, plating four runs on four separate RBI hits. Zeigler-Namoa singled home a run,
Mana Lau Kong and
Jake Redding contributed back-to-back RBI doubles, and Sanchez struck again with an RBI double down the left-field line to extend the lead to 9-2.
Sanchez anchored the run production, finishing the night 2-for-5 with two doubles and four RBIs. Zeigler-Namoa paced the team in hits, going a stellar 3-for-4 with two RBIs and two stolen bases. Hawai'i also utilized aggressive baserunning and late-inning execution to round out the scoring. Leadoff hitter
Kamana Nahaku reached base four times, finishing 2-for-3 with two runs scored, two hit-by-pitches, and a pair of stolen bases.
The 'Bows added single insurance runs in the sixth and seventh innings, utilizing an RBI groundout from
Taylor Takata and an RBI single from
Gabe Wright, who also recorded a stolen base after entering the game as a pinch runner.
On the mound, Hawai'i used seven pitchers to finish off the win.
Dylan Waite (2-0) earned the victory out of the bullpen after tossing two scoreless innings and striking out three.
Zacary Tenn also provided two solid innings of relief, striking out three batters, as the Hawai'i pitching staff combined for 12 strikeouts.
The Rainbow Warriors will now pivot back to Big West conference play as they prepare to host UC Riverside for a three-game weekend series beginning on Friday at 6:35 p.m. HT.
