MESA, Ariz. – The University of Hawai'i Rainbow baseball team (31-25) out-slugged the New Mexico State Aggies (36-22-1) 13-7 in the Western Athletic Conference Tournament at Hohokam Stadium Thursday. Alex Capaul (6-2) got the win while Dan Reid (6-2) got the loss for the Aggies. Zach Gallagher picked up the save, allowing no runs on two hits with five strikeouts in 4.2 innings.

 

Collin Bennett led the Rainbows, going 4-for-5 with three RBI, three runs and two doubles. Kolten Wong was 3-for-5 with one RBI and three runs while Kevin Macdonald went 2-for-5 with two RBI and a run. Matt Roquemore was 2-for-3 with one RBI and one run with Sean Montplaisir going 2-for-4 with one RBI and one run. David Freitas (two runs, one RBI) and Jeffrey Van Doornum (one run, one RBI) also added two-hit games.

 

Hawai'i jumped on the board early as Van Doornum drove in Wong in the top of the first, putting UH ahead 1-0. But the Aggies answered right away, scoring two in the bottom of the inning to take the 2-1 edge.

 

Macdonald hit a two-run single up the middle in the top of the second to give the 'Bows back the lead at 3-2, only to see NMSU answer with a RBI-single by Ryan Aguayo, tying it at 3-3.

 

After Capaul came in to get the Rainbows out of a bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the third, the UH bats exploded. Roquemore and Wong started the fourth with back-to-back RBI-singles. David Freitas and Bennett also had run-scoring hits in what became a six-run inning for the 'Bows, making it 9-3.

 

NMSU put up a run in the bottom of the fourth, with the Rainbows answering as Wong scored on an error, getting the score to 10-4.

 

But the lead would not be safe against the powerful Aggie lineup, who posted three in the bottom of the fifth, cutting it to 10-7.

 

Hawai'i added some insurance runs in the top of the eighth as Bennett blasted a two-run double to deep centerfield before coming around to score on a RBI-single by Montplaisir, pushing the Rainbow lead to 13-7.

 

And that would be enough as Gallagher pitched his way out of a couple of jams in the eighth and ninth innings, preserving the victory for the 'Bows.

 

UH will play in the winner's bracket game tomorrow at 7:30 p.m. (4:30 p.m. HST) against the winner of the Fresno State-San Jose State game.

 

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