Ducks deny ‘Bows in ninth

Hawaii gave No. 6 Oregon a scare on Saturday night, but All-America closer Jimmie Sherfy buckled down when it mattered most.

Sherfy allowed the tying run to reach third, but got Kaeo Aliviado to line out to left to preserve a 5-4 victory on Saturday night at Les Murakami Stadium.

A second consecutive sellout crowd of 3,820 came alive with UH down 5-3 in the ninth.

Andre Real greeted Sherfy, a Louisville Slugger first team All-American, with a single and pinch hitter Marc Flores worked a seven-pitch walk.

Both runners moved up 90 feet on a passed ball and Real scored on an RBI groundout by Trevor Podratz, moving Flores to third before Aliviado’s line drive to left was caught by Brett Thomas.

"I was trying to get that first-pitch fastball and he jumped on me first," said Aliviado, who fell behind 0-2. "I thought it was going to fall in, but hey, that’s the game of baseball."

Hawaii dropped to 0-2 in the series and will try to avoid its first 0-3 start since 2009. Senior Connor Little takes the mound today at 1:05 p.m.

UH last lost three straight to open the season against UC Irvine, which was ranked No. 1 at the time.

The Ducks might earn that ranking soon enough.

"That’s a great team we’re playing — a team a lot of people have picked to go to Omaha, and we’re battling with them," Hawaii coach Mike Trapasso said. "We showed if you pitch ahead in the count and throw more strikes, we’re going to win our share of games because I love the way we play defense and I love the toughness of our offensive players."

The Rainbows need to find a pitcher capable of lasting deep into a game.

For the second consecutive night, UH’s starter lasted only 42⁄3 innings as freshman Quintin Torres-Costa gave up five runs on five hits with three walks and three strikeouts.

"I was a little too hesitant when I was pitching," Torres-Costa said. "I need to be more aggressive the next time I go out."

Ryon Healy had three of Oregon’s six doubles as the Ducks won despite getting outhit 12-9.

First baseman Jerry Kleman was one of three righties inserted into the UH lineup against Oregon left-hander Tommy Thorpe and led the Rainbows with three hits.

Junior Tyler Young started at catcher, becoming the first Punahou alum to play for the ‘Bows since Chad Giannetti and Scooter Martines in 2002.

With the Ducks leading 5-1, Young lined a two-run double to center off reliever Cole Wiper, scoring Conner George and Kalei Hanawahine to cut the deficit in half.

"Credit goes out to the guys who got one before me," Young said. "It’s just a hit without the guys getting on before me."

Young was also responsible for UH’s first run of the season, ending a 10-inning scoreless string with an infield single in the second to score George.

George drew a two-out walk and Hanawahine singled through the right side of the infield before Young’s chopper to deep short plated a run.

Young finished 2-for-4 with three RBIs and Real, Podratz and Hanawahine all had two hits apiece.

Matt Cooper replaced Torres-Costa and threw 41⁄3 scoreless innings, surrendering four hits and striking out three without a walk. He retired the final eight batters he faced to give UH a chance to win it in the ninth.

"For us, Matt Cooper was the story of the game, just settling things and being the first guy in two nights to go out and pitch ahead in the count and throw three pitches for strikes," Trapasso said.

Hawaii left the bases full in the fifth and sixth innings and stranded 10 men overall.

Thorpe picked up the win, giving up one run on seven hits over five innings with two walks and four strikeouts.

Sherfy was credited with his first save after recording 19 last season as a sophomore.

Oregon will send true freshman left-hander Cole Irvin to the mound to oppose Little.