Brewster pitches Rainbows to victory

L.J. Brewster and three relievers combined on a two-hitter and Alex Sawelson drove in both Hawaii runs in a 2-1 victory over Baylor on Friday in the opener of the Houston College Classic at Minute Maid Park.

Brewster (3-1) struck out seven in 61⁄3 innings in his first start since he was elevated to the top of Hawaii’s pitching rotation.

He gave up two hits and walked four, earning the win as the Rainbow Warriors (6-8) snapped a three-game losing streak.

"It was an interesting game," Hawaii coach Mike Trapasso said. "I thought it was a really good game for L.J. to pitch in that he really didn’t have control of his secondary pitches the way he’s had in his first three starts but he just battled with his fastball for the most part and did really well."

Brewster retired the first eight Baylor hitters before giving up a two-out single in the third. He walked the first two batters in the fifth and gave up his only run on a sacrifice fly.

A one-out walk and a double by Adam Toth put runners on second and third in the sixth, but Brewster escaped that jam.

He finally came out with one out in the seventh after issuing his fourth free pass.

"He’s turning into a good story because he’s pitching for the first time yet is showing some tremendous maturity," Trapasso said. "I thought that was his most impressive game just because he was able to win when he didn’t have his best stuff."

Brewster, who had never started a game as a pitcher until this season, has given up two runs or fewer and worked into the sixth inning in all four outings.

Hawaii has outscored its opponent 20-6 in games he’s started.

"I thought their guy was really good who started the game," Baylor coach Steve Smith said on the postgame radio broadcast. "I think they’ve got somebody there. The thing I liked about him is he worked quick and pounded the zone."

Baylor (6-6), which has lost four straight, was 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position.

Sawelson provided the offense for UH with a pair of two-out RBI singles.

He drove in Alan Baldwin for the first run with a hit off Baylor starter Drew Tolson (0-2) in the second inning and singled home Baldwin again in the fourth for a 2-0 lead. He was lifted for a pinch runner in the eighth inning with a sore hip.

"I’m a little concerned because when we pinch-ran for him it was because he tweaked a hip," Trapasso said. "We’ll see how it goes, but he really was the story of the game. Three hits, two RBIs, it’s great to see because he really has taken it personally that he had been struggling so much."

Hawaii is already without outfielder Marcus Doi and infielder Stephen Ventimilia due to injuries.

Next up for Hawaii is Nebraska on Saturday at 8:05 a.m.

LOB—Baylor 7; Hawaii 9. 2B—Toth; LoCoco. HBP—Ka‘aua; Sheldon-Collins. SF—Ducoff. SB—Brown 2; Sheppard; Esthay; Wendel; McLean.

HBP—by Tolson (Ka‘aua); by Kirkland (Sheldon-Collins). Umpires—(Plate): Michael Banks. (First): Greg Oros. (Third): Dan Moscorro. T—2:24. A—503.