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Hawaii starter Jarrett Arakawa recorded only one out before leaving with an injury and Kris Paulino went 2-for-4 with a homer, three runs and three RBIs to help UC Irvine complete a three-game sweep with an 15-8 victory on Sunday at Les Murakami Stadium.
Marc Flores hit UH’s first grand slam since 2010 and Adam Hurley added a solo shot for the Rainbow Warriors (14-16, 2-4 Big West), who have lost all six games to UC Irvine (21-10, 5-1) since joining the conference last season.
Arakawa (2-1) allowed a leadoff walk and two one-out hits before leaving with a 1-0 count to UC Irvine catcher Jerry McClanahan in the top of the first. Arakawa missed all of last season after having shoulder surgery to repair a torn labrum in his throwing shoulder.
UC Irvine took a 7-0 lead in the fourth inning on Connor Spencer’s two-run single after Hawaii walked four batters.
Evan Brock (4-3) took a shutout into the sixth inning before Flores’ ground slam with two outs cut the lead to 7-4. The grand slam was Hawaii’s first since Christian Johnson hit on March 29, 2010, at San Diego.
UH freshman Marcus Doi was lifted for a pinch-runner in the eighth inning after beating out a double play at first.
Hawaii brought the tying run to the plate with two outs and the bases loaded in the eighth, forcing UCI to bring in closer Sam Moore. Trevor Podratz hit a two-run single to left to make it 10-8 before Moore struck out Juliene Jones swinging.
The 15 runs given up by UH were the most in a home game since March 1, 2006 when it gave up 15 in a loss to Texas-Arlington in the Rainbow Baseball Tournament.
Kaeo Aliviado tied a career-high with four hits and scored once for Hawaii, which hosts Big West co-leader Cal Poly for three games starting Friday night. The Mustangs are ranked fifth in the country and took two of three against UC Santa Barbara this weekend.
