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Hawaii junior Scott Squier scattered seven hits over nine innings and Stephen Ventimilia singled and scored twice for the Rainbow Warriors in a 5-1 win over UC Riverside on Thursday night at Les Murakami Stadium.
Squier (5-5) pitched his third complete game of the season to give Hawaii (21-30, 5-17 Big West) its first win at home in conference play.
The left-hander struck out nine and walked three while pitching for the sixth time in Hawaii’s last seven games.
Matt Cooper, who had started the opening game of every series this season, will take the mound in the season finale on Saturday.
Kaeo Aliviado had two hits and drove in a run for Hawaii, which scored more than three runs in the opening game of a Big West series for the first time all year.
Jacob Smigelski (8-6) allowed five runs on eight hits in 6 1/3 innings to take the loss for the Highlanders (25-27, 11-11).
Senior Scott Kuzminsky will start Game 2 of the series for Hawaii on Friday night at 6:35.
