Friday night’s win by University of Hawai’i Rainbow Warriors against the UC Riverside Highlanders was 5-2 at Les Murakami stadium.

The Rainbow Warriors (11-16 and 4-6) hit two home runs, while the Highlanders (4-23 and 2-8) lost their third consecutive game.

The first two innings were quiet, with pitchers sitting down batters. That ended with Matt Wong’s home run in the third over the right-field wall. The Warriors were able to load the bases in the same inning but were unable to score any more runs.
UH led by one run into the fifth, but the Highlanders were able to get to Cade Halemanu a junior pitcher. They would score two runs, unearned, giving them a 2-1 lead.

Hawai’i was able to load the bases in the sixth for Jordan Donahue, a freshman designated hitter. He beat out a single from the right side and tied the game at 2:2.

UH, stopped the UC Riverside attack in the seventh. In the bottom half of the inning, Cole Cabrera, a graduate center fielder, crushed a home run over the left-field wall for a 3-2 lead.

In the bottom of the eighth, the Warriors added insurance when Naighel Ali’I Calderon and Jordan Donahue reached second and third, respectively. Aaron Ujimori, the sophomore third baseman, delivered a two-run home run up the middle to up the lead.

Blaze Koali’i Pontes, a junior relief pitcher, shut down the Highlanders as he pitched four innings and a third of relief. He gave up three hits and no walks while striking out four to earn his first win of the season.

Jordan Donahue was only Warrior to have multiple hits. Ujimori’s two RBIs were also the most valuable and most on the team.

Today’s game 2 of the series sees the Rainbow Warriors taking on the UC Riverside Highlanders. They could win their first series victory of the year. The first pitch will take place at 6:35 HT.