NORTHRIDGE, Calif. – The Hawai’i baseball team couldn’t overcome an early onslaught of CSUN offense, falling 11-2 to even up the series between the two teams Saturday.
The Rainbow Warriors (26-19, 15-11 Big West) are now a game behind the Matadors in the conference standings and in a tie for fifth place with UC Irvine.
A day after getting shut out by the ‘Bows, the Matadors jumped out to an early lead with a run in the first. Ali Camarillo beat out a two-out bunt base hit to plate the first run before CSUN struck for two more runs in the second to make it 3-0.
The Matadors (30-17, 16-10 Big West) added another run in the third after a double, single and fielder’s choice to start the frame before breaking it open with three runs in the fourth on a pair of sacrifice flies and a double.
The Rainbow Warriors got on the board with single runs in the sixth and seventh innings to cut into the deficit. After Jacob Igawa singled and Stone Miyao doubled with one out in the sixth, Ben Zeigler-Namoa drove in Igawa with a groundout to make it 7-1. Matt Wong came through with a two-out RBI single an inning later to trim the CSUN lead to 7-2.
CSUN answered with three runs in the bottom of the seventh, as Kevin Fitzer hit a three-run shot out to center field to break it open.
Igawa turned in his third straight three-hit game, going 3-for-4 with a double and a run scored while Miyao and Zeigler-Namoa each added a two-bagger to lead the offense.
The Rainbow Warriors will go for the series win Sunday at 10 a.m. HT.
