Box score
FRESNO, Calif. – The University of Hawai'i baseball team defeated No. 13 Fresno State Friday, 6-5, in 10 innings. The game was the series opener between the Rainbows and Bulldogs, as UH improves to a WAC-best 8-1 and 23-17 overall, and Fresno State falls to 8-4 in conference and 28-8 overall.
Zach Swasey had a monster game for the 'Bows batting 3-5 with two runs and two RBI, and Sean Montplaisir added two hits, one run, and two RBI. Jordan Ribera led the Bulldogs with two hits, one run, and three RBI.
The 'Bows took a 3-0 lead with a trio of runs in the top of the first inning. Swasey and Montplaisir each delivered RBI-doubles to give UH the early lead. FSU responded in the bottom of the inning, as a two-run homerun by Ribera cut the lead to one run.
The Bulldogs would score runs in the second and third innings to go up 4-3, but the 'Bows rallied with two runs in the sixth inning to retake the lead. Jeff Van Doornum (1 H, 2 R) hit a lead-off double and was driven home by Swasey. Then with the bases loaded, Swasey came home on a sacrifice fly by pinch hitter Collin Bennett.
Danny Muno (1 H, 1 R, 1 RBI) tied the contest with an RBI-single in the eighth inning, and the game headed into extra innings after a scoreless ninth. In the 10th, UH scored what would prove to be the game-winning run. A wild pitch by Bulldog pitcher Charlie Robertson allowed Swasey to score from third base.
Blair Walters (5-1) earned the win in a relief effort, pitching 2.1 innings allowing one run with two strikeouts. Lenny Linksy pitched a scoreless 10th inning for his ninth save. Robertson (0-4) was tagged with loss allowing one run in one inning of work.
The Rainbows and Bulldogs play game two of their series on Saturday. First pitch is set for 6:00 p.m. Pacific Time (3:00 p.m. HST).
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