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Matt Cooper tossed his second complete game of the season and Marcus Doi had three of Hawaii’s 14 hits in a 3-1 victory over No. 14 UC Santa Barbara on Friday in the Big West opener for both teams at Caesar Uyesaka Stadium in Santa Barbara, Calif.
The Rainbow Warriors (13-12, 1-0) opened conference play handing the Gauchos (18-4, 0-1) just their second home loss in 13 games.
Cooper (3-1) allowed six hits and struck out nine against UCSB, which entered the game seventh in the nation in hitting with a .317 average.
Hawaii pounded 11 hits off of UCSB starter Justin Jacome (4-1), who allowed three runs in 6 1/3 innings.
Doi, starting his first game in three weeks and first as a designated hitter, scored on Adam Hurley’s two-out RBI single in the second and drove in Kaeo Aliviado with a two-out base hit in the third.
Aliviado went 2-for-5 with a double and two runs scored and Marc Flores added an RBI double in the fifth.
Stephen Ventimilia had three hits.
The three-game series continues on Saturday with Scott Squier (3-1, 2.16 ERA) taking the mound at 11 a.m. Hawaii time.
