72
Matt Cooper tossed 7 2/3 shutout innings to help Hawaii clinch its first series win of the season with a 7-0 victory over Wichita State on Saturday night at Les Murakami Stadium.
Cooper (2-2) extended his scoreless innings streak to 16 2/3, allowing eight hits with a career-high 10 strikeouts and no walks.
He has allowed only one run in 28 2/3 innings at home this year for the Rainbows (5-16), who have won four of their last five games.
Stephen Ventimilia went 2-for-4 with a double, walk, three runs, an RBI and a stolen base and Conner George extended his hitting streak to five games with an RBI single in the first.
George has eight RBIs in the series for Hawaii, which has won eight of its last 10 against Wichita State (12-11).
Pi’ikea Kitamura put the game away with a two-run single in the eighth off reliever Drew Palmer. He got caught in a rundown between first and second but stayed alive long enough for Ventimilia to score an extra run.
Kitamura finished with two hits and three RBIs and Trevor Podratz went 2-for-3 with a double and a run scored before he was lifted for a pinch runner.
The five-game series ends with an early 12:05 p.m. start on Sunday.
