Scotty Scott, Matt Wong and Nainoa Cardinez hit home runs to power the University of Hawaii baseball team to today’s 9-5 victory over UC San Diego at Triton Ballpark in La Jolla, Calif.
By clinching their seventh three-game series in a row, the Rainbow Warriors improved to 26-21 overall and 17-9 in the Big West. The Tritons, in the second year of a four-year transition from Division II to Division I, fell to 23-29 and 12-13.
Scott’s two-run blast to right-center staked the ’Bows to a 2-0 lead in the second. Scott’s first homer came on the 527th at bat of his four-season UH career. Scott, a left fielder who has a tender left (throwing) arm, also stranded a Triton at third with a strong throw back to the infield following a running catch. Scott’s diving grab was the Tritons’ 27th out.
Wong’s fifth homer of the season, a three-run blast, cleared the wall in left field and extended the ’Bows’ lead to 7-2 in the fourth inning.
Cardinez’s hit his second home run in as many games to make it 8-2 in the fifth.
Shortstop Jordan Donahue went 4-for-2 and scored two runs. Second baseman Stone Miyao was 3-for-4, including a bunt single that ricocheted and hit the first-base bag.
Cade Halemanu, whose usual start was moved back a day, allowed two runs — none earned — in six innings to improve to 3-5.
Sunday’s series finale begins at 10 a.m. Hawaii time.
Source: Star Ads
