The Hawaii baseball team faced No. 20 UC Irvine for the second night in a row, hoping to turn things around after a tough loss. Despite a valiant effort, the Rainbow Warriors once again fell short of victory. They almost came back from a seven-run deficit and had a chance to take the lead in the eighth inning, but UC Irvine managed to hold on for a 12-8 win at Les Murakami Stadium on Friday night.
The ‘Bows fought back to make it a close game, trailing 9-8 with runners on base in the eighth inning. However, UCI pitcher Ricky Tibbett struck out two Hawaii batters to escape the jam. The Anteaters then scored three insurance runs in the ninth inning to secure the win. Despite a late rally, Hawaii couldn’t overcome Irvine’s lead.
With their record now at 15-9 overall and 2-3 in the Big West Conference, Hawaii will look to bounce back in the next game. Coach Rich Hill praised his team’s effort, despite the loss. UCI got off to a strong start, scoring eight runs early in the game, including a three-run home run by designated hitter Thomas McCaffrey.
Second-day starter Randy Abshier struggled on the mound, giving up 10 hits and eight earned runs in the first few innings. UCI hitters like Caden Kendle and Anthony Martinez had big nights at the plate, contributing to their team’s win. Hawaii will need to regroup and come back strong for the series finale on Saturday
