HONOLULU – The Hawai'i baseball team completed a weekend series sweep of UC Riverside in emphatic fashion, utilizing a massive six-run seventh inning to defeat the Highlanders, 10-5, on Sunday afternoon at Les Murakami Stadium.
Ben Zeigler-Namoa blasted a go-ahead two-run shot to ignite the six-run rally, giving UH its first series sweep of the season. The 'Bows are now tied for fourth in the Big West at 13-11 in league play with six games remaining in the season. The top five teams qualify for the Big West postseason tournament.
The Rainbow Warriors (24-19, 13-11 Big West) fell behind early after the Highlanders (14-32, 9-15 Big West) struck for a pair of runs in the top of the second inning on a solo home run by Jarren Sanderson and an RBI double from Manoah Chapman.
Hawai'i immediately answered in the bottom half of the frame, tying the game 2-2 on a
Noah Rodriguez RBI single and a
Kamana Nahaku bases-loaded hit-by-pitch.
UH built a 4-2 advantage in the middle innings, scratching across a run in the third on an RBI fielder's choice from pinch hitter
Christian Hoffman and another in the fifth when
Taylor Takata laced an RBI triple to right field to score
Josh Martin.
UC Riverside fought back in the top of the seventh against the Hawai'i bullpen. The Highlanders capitalized on an error and a wild pitch, plating three runs highlighted by RBI singles from Ty Walton and Lucas Bonham to take a 5-4 lead.
The deficit was incredibly short-lived. In the bottom of the seventh,
Tate Shimao was hit by a pitch to lead off the frame before Zeigler-Namoa blasted a go-ahead, two-run home run to right-center field.
The 'Bows kept pouring it on, eventually loading the bases for Rodriguez, who delivered a clutch two-run single to right-center.
Jake Redding added an RBI groundout, and an ensuing Highlander error brought home another run, capping the massive six-run surge to give Hawai'i a commanding 10-5 lead.
Senior
John Alkire II (2-2) earned the victory in relief, taking over during the seventh-inning jam and brilliantly shutting the door. The right-hander tossed 2.2 scoreless innings, scattering just two hits and striking out three. Takata paced the offense with a stellar 3-for-4 performance with a triple and two runs scored, while Zeigler-Namoa and Rodriguez each recorded two hits and multiple RBIs
The Rainbow Warriors will take their final road trip of the season, playing at UC Davis Friday through Sunday.
