HONOLULU – Backed by another masterful start from right-hander
Hekili Robello and a relentless offensive attack, the Hawai'i baseball team routed UC Riverside, 9-1, on Saturday night to clinch the weekend series at Les Murakami Stadium.
The win was also the 1,000th by the Rainbow Warriors in Les Murakami Stadium since the doors to the venue opened in 1984.
Robello (8-3) tossed eight dominant innings while allowing just one run on three hits. The Hilo native struck out five batters and issued two walks on 112 pitches to earn his team-leading eighth victory of the season. After giving up a first inning run, he stifled the Highlander bats the rest of the way facing one above the minimum over the final seven innings.
UC Riverside (14-31, 9-14 Big West) struck first in the top of the opening frame when Jarren Sanderson delivered an RBI single to third base, bringing home Lucas Bonham. The Rainbow Warriors (23-19, 12-11 Big West) answered immediately in the bottom half of the inning. After
Kamana Nahaku and
Tate Shimao drew back-to-back walks, freshman
Mana Lau Kong lined an RBI single through the left side to knot the game at 1-1.
Hawai'i took the lead for good in the third inning when Shimao launched a solo home run to left field. The 'Bows then extended their advantage against the UCR bullpen in the fifth inning. Lau Kong struck again, lacing a two-run single to right field against reliever Halen Jaden Acuna Gu to score Nahaku and Shimao, pushing the lead to 4-1.
Tapping into a season-long trend of dominant late-game production, Hawai'i broke the game wide open with a massive five-run seventh inning. Lau Kong drove in his fourth run of the night with a sacrifice fly, and
Josh Martin followed shortly after with an RBI single up the middle. Shortstop
Taylor Takata then broke things wide open, clearing the bases with a three-run double to left field to cap the scoring at 9-1.
Shimao paced the offense from the No. 2 spot in the lineup, finishing 3-for-4 with three runs scored, a home run, and an RBI. Lau Kong was a force in the middle of the order, going 2-for-4 with a game-high four RBIs, while Takata added two hits and three RBIs.
The Rainbow Warriors will look to secure the series sweep Sunday afternoon at 1:05 p.m. at Les Murakami Stadium.
