Box Score
RUSTON, La. – The University of Hawai'i Ranbow baseball team (21-19, 4-7 WAC) outscored the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs (20-18, 5-6) 14-13 at J.C. Love Field Saturday.
Connor Little (2-0) picked up the victory for UH while Will Alvis (0-1) took the loss.
Lenny Linsky came in and picked up a two-inning save, his ninth of the season.
Collin Bennett led the way for Hawai'i, going 2-for-3 with a home run, a triple, four RBI and three runs.
Greg Garcia was 2-for-4 with a home run, four RBI and two runs with
Kolten Wong going 3-for-6 with two runs. Jeffrey Van Doornum also went 2-for-4 with two RBI and two runs, while
Matt Roquemore was 2-for-5 with two RBI, a run, a double and a stolen base.
Pi'ikea Kitamura also had a two-hit game, going 2-for-6 with one RBI and one run while
David Freitas ended up with three runs scored.
The Rainbows got on the board first in the top of the second as Garcia blasted a three-run homer to right-center. Kitamura later drove in Roquemore in the inning, making it 4-0. Tech responded with two runs in the bottom of the second to cut it back to 4-2.
Garcia then singled in a run in the top of the third before Roquemore added a two-run double, getting it to 7-2. But the Bulldogs again put up a two-run bottom half of the inning, getting it to 7-4.
UH again came up with some offense in the top of the fourth as Bennett hit a three-run home run to straight-away centerfield, extending the Rainbow lead to 10-4. Louisiana Tech answered with two runs for the third-straight inning, getting it back to 10-6 while chasing UH starter
Matt Sisto.
The Bulldogs then got within a run in the bottom of the fifth after a three-run homer of their own from Will Alvis, getting it to 10-9. Tech had a good chance to tie the game in the inning, putting a runner on third with no outs. But Little came in and settled the situation, striking out the first two batters he faced before inducing a fly out to end the inning with the 'Bows still ahead by a run.
Van Doornum drove in a run in the top of the sixth, with Bennett tripling in another run, getting it to 12-9. But Louisiana Tech got two home runs, a two-run shot by Devon Dageford and a solo shot by Alvis, in the bottom of the inning to tie the score. The Bulldogs then took the lead, scoring on a double steal later in the inning to make it 13-12.
Hawai'i took back the lead in the top of the eighth as Van Doornum and
Kevin Macdonald both drove in a run each, making it 14-13.
That would be enough as Linsky came in and pitched two no-hit innings, allowing only one baserunner, on an error, while striking out three.
The final game of the series comes tomorrow at 1 p.m. (8 a.m. HST).
