Box Score

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The University of Hawai'i Rainbow baseball team (17-16, 1-4 WAC) fell to the Sacramento State Hornets (11-17-1, 0-1) 11-6 in the series opener at Hornet Field Friday. Alex Capaul (5-2) took the loss in relief, while Mike Guglielmo (1-2) picked up the victory for the Hornets.

Christian Johnson had a huge day for the 'Bows, going 3-for-3 with two home runs and a walk. David Freitas also homered, going 1-for-3 with three RBI, while Greg Garcia ended up 2-for-4 with one RBI, one run and one stolen base.

The Hornets struck first, scoring a run in the bottom of the third. Sacramento State looked to do more damage in the inning, but Matt Roquemore was able to gun down a runner at home plate to record the final out and keep it to just a one-run game.

Sacramento State added an unearned run in the bottom of the fourth before the Rainbows got their offense started. Garcia singled in a run in the top of the fifth before Freitas hit a three-run homer, putting Hawai'i ahead 4-2.

Starter Josh Slaats allowed a run in the bottom of the fifth, making it 4-3 when he left the game. Slaats ended up pitching 5.0 innings, allowing two earned runs with seven strikeouts.

Johnson led off the top of the sixth with a home run to get the lead back to 5-3. But the Hornets then exploded for a four-run sixth inning, including two unearned runs, taking back the lead at 7-5. Sac State again put up four runs in the seventh inning, extending its lead to 11-5.

Johnson hit his second homer of the game in the top of the eighth, cutting it to 11-6. But that was all that UH could produce, dropping the series opener.

The series continues tomorrow with a doubleheader, starting at 11:30 a.m. (8:30 a.m. HST), with the series finale coming at 1 p.m. (10 a.m. HST) on Sunday.|