Michigan sweeps Hawaii in series

Hawaii’s got a lot of work to do to get to .500 by the start of conference play.

No. 19 Michigan finished off a four-game sweep of the Rainbow Warriors on Saturday, taking both games of a doubleheader at Les Murakami Stadium.

The Wolverines (11-3) scored seven runs over the final two innings of the first game to win 9-4 and closed out the series with a 5-3 victory before a crowd of 1,483.

Hawaii (6-11) suffered its fifth straight loss and is close to playing itself out of regional contention before league play even begins.

It will take a 7-1 finish against Chicago State and Santa Clara the next two weeks to finish above .500 in nonconference games. That would at least place Hawaii in consideration for an at-large regional berth with a top-three finish in the always-tough Big West Conference.

“We still have a chance to accomplish everything we need,” Hawaii coach Mike Trapasso said after his team was outscored 25-11 in the series. “(Michigan) was a great test for us to let us know that we’re not where we need to be yet. This was a step back this weekend, but you have to give them credit. They were just better than us.”

Hawaii should have gotten a win Friday when the winning run was ruled out at the plate on a clearly blown call.

In the first game of Saturday’s doubleheader, with both games scheduled for only seven innings, Hawaii jumped in front 2-0 after three innings and took a 3-2 lead into the sixth.

Starter Alex Hatch, who retired the first 10 batters he faced, gave up singles to the first two batters he faced. A sacrifice fly tied the game and Cody Bruder, who was 3-for-4 with four RBIs, doubled in the go-ahead run.

Michigan then scored four more times in the seventh inning off reliever Josh Pigg, whose only out recorded was on a sacrifice bunt.

“There were a couple of times where there were lead changes back and forth and I was proud of the guys with the way they were engaged and competing the entire time,” Michigan coach Erik Bakich said. “Hatch had our number and was really good and we did a good job of capturing that momentum and finding scoring opportunities.”

Michigan controlled the second game until the very end, with starter Evan Hill (2-1) holding UH to one run in 52⁄3 innings.

The Rainbow Warriors trailed 5-1 in the bottom of the seventh and rallied for two runs to make it a game.

Matt LoCoco singled home a run and scored on a passed ball to make it 5-3. Jacob Sheldon-Collins worked a walk to bring the tying run to the plate, forcing Michigan to bring in Carmen Benedetti for the save.

Benedetti, who had two hits as the designated hitter, ended it with Michigan’s 37th strikeout of the series.

UH had 13 hits for the day, with Alex Fitchett going 2-for-4 with an RBI in the first game and 1-for-3 with an RBI in the second.

“They exposed us and hit the ball in the right places and got a bunch of breaks, but I think we can be a lot better than we were this weekend,” Fitchett said. “It’s nice that we have that fight late in games, but it would be even nicer to score runs early and maintain a lead and win ballgames the way we should.”

Hatch (1-2) gave up five hits and five runs in six innings in the first game to take the loss. Lawrence Chew (0-1) allowed four runs on six hits in three innings of the second game.

Senior Matt Valencia gave UH a chance to make a comeback in the nightcap, striking out four in 21⁄3 scoreless innings.

Valencia has appeared in seven games this season and given up just two hits and no earned runs in 81⁄3 innings with 11 strikeouts.

“I feel like I figured something out coming back from winter break and I’ve come in with a different mind-set,” Valencia said. “I’ve been able to get back to why Coach recruited me — throwing strikes and getting people out and let the defense play behind me.”

After playing eight games against Power Five schools, UH hosts WAC member Chicago State and Santa Clara of the West Coast Conference over the next two weeks.

The Cougars are 4-9 with one game left against Illinois Chicago and the Broncos are 7-8.

“We have to get close to or above .500 before we start conference,” Trapasso said. “We’re definitely capable. We have to focus on doing the things we got away from this weekend.”

MICHIGAN 9, HAWAII 4

E–Benedetti; Slater. DP–Michigan 1. LOB–Michigan 3, Hawaii 7.

2B–Bivens; Ramsay; Wenson; Bruder. SH-Brdar; Thomas 2; Sheldon-Collins. HBP–Bruder. SF-Wenson; Engelmann. SB-Ramsay; Slater.

Umpires–(Plate): Frank Pflugradt. (First): Jason Rogers. (Third): Jake Uhlenhopp. T–2:16. A–not reported.

E–Brdar; Bruder; Baldwin. DP–Hawaii 2. LOB–Michigan 6, Hawaii 6.

2B–Bivens; Benedetti; Slater. HBP–Ramirez. SH–Brdar; Thomas. SB-Ramsay.

WP-Chew. HBP–by Hill (Ramirez). Umpires–(Plate): Jason Rogers. (First): Jake Uhlenhopp. (Third): Frank Pflugradt. T–2:33. A–1,483.