Hawai‘i 12, Nevada 9
RENO, Nev. –(UH Media Relatiosn) In their series opener Thursday, the University of Hawai'i defeated Nevada, 12-9. The first place Rainbows improve to 25-19 overall and 10-3 in the WAC, with the Wolfpack dropping to 16-24 overall and 5-7 in conference.
Five Rainbows posted multi-hit games led by Sean Montplaisir who recorded a season-high four hits (4-5) to go along with one run and two RBI. Collin Bennett added three hits, two runs, and two RBI, and Zack Swasey batted 3-4 with three RBI.
Nevada led 2-1 after scoring a pair of runs in the bottom of the first inning, but the 'Bows tied the game one inning later on a Montplaisir RBI-single.
In the sixth inning, Hawai'i scored four runs to take a considerable lead at 6-2. Swasey, Collin Bennett, Jeff Van Doornum (2-4, 1 R, 1 RBI), and Montplaisir each recorded RBI. The Wolfpack would cut into the lead though in the bottom of the inning, as Braden Shipley hit a two-RBI single to cut the lead to 6-4. Shipley led the Wolfpack with three hits, one run, and four RBI.
Nevada closed the lead to 7-6, but the 'Bows responded with a five-run seventh inning to take an 11-6 advantage. Pi'ikea Kitamura (2 H, 2 R, 3 RBI) delivered a two-RBI base hit with the bases loaded for the big hit of the inning.
Matt Sisto earned the win for UH, tossing three innings allowing four runs on four hits with three strikeouts. Tom Jameson (3-6) pitched 3.2 innings in receiving the loss. He allowed seven runs on nine hits with two strikeouts.
The Rainbows and Wolfpack retake the field on Friday for game two of their series. First pitch is set for 6:00 p.m. Pacific Time