Year three of the Big West baseball experience has started much the way the previous two went.

Hawaii had opportunities to win every game against UC Irvine this weekend but instead finds itself on the wrong end of another three-game sweep after the Anteaters scored in the eighth inning to win 4-3 on Sunday at Anteater Ballpark in Irvine, Calif.

Cole Kreuter’s two-out infield single scored Ryan Cooper from third to extended UC Irvine’s winning streak to eight games overall.

The Anteaters (14-10, 3-0) have won all nine meetings in conference play against Hawaii (9-19, 0-3), which has been swept in five of its last eight conference series.

The Rainbow Warriors have lost 20 of their last 24 league games overall and are 3-14 this season in games decided by three runs or fewer.

"We just feel like we’re so close but we can’t get over the hump," Hawaii coach Mike Trapasso said. "The entire series we played so well. We’re playing so much better with our guys (back), but against a team like Irvine, you make one mistake and they’ll capitalize on it."

Two errors by second baseman Stephen Ventimilia did in the Rainbow Warriors, who got two big two-out hits from junior Alex Sawelson and freshman Eric Ramirez.

Sawelson gave Hawaii a 2-0 lead with a two-run double in the first inning to score Ventimilia, who led off with a single, and Marcus Doi, who drew a two-out walk.

Doi was walked for the third time with two outs in the eighth and took second on Sawelson’s third hit of the night to bring up Ramirez, who singled off Sam Moore to tie the game at 3.

The Anteaters answered immediately both times, beginning in the bottom of the first.

Ventimilia had a chance to start a double play, but threw the ball into left field going to second to allow runners to reach second and third with nobody out.

Keston Hiura hit a two-run single and Cameron Bishop scored a runner on a groundout to give UCI a 3-2 lead.

After Hawaii battled back to tie in the the top of the eighth, Ventimilia booted a ball to allow the leadoff runner aboard in the bottom of the inning.

Matt Valencia got UCI down to its final out, but Kreuter hit a grounder deep into the hole at short and beat the throw from Jacob Sheldon-Collins, who did everything he could to get the out at first.

"First of all, we were convinced we had him struck out on a check swing, but of course that didn’t go our way and then (Valencia) makes a great pitch, gets an 18-hopper, but it’s exactly placed in the six-hole," Trapasso said. "It’s just bad luck. Valencia made a great pitch."

UC Irvine closer Sam Moore walked Chayce Ka‘aua to lead off the ninth and Sheldon-Collins bunted him into scoring position with one out.

Sean Sparling, who relieved Moore after the leadoff walk, picked up his second save by getting two straight groundouts.

Hawaii pinch hit for Ventimilia with backup catcher Steven Pollakov, who got ahead 2-0 before a check swing dribbled weakly back to the pitcher. Alan Baldwin, who had five hits on Saturday, then grounded out to end it.

Valencia took the loss despite throwing 22⁄3 quality innings, allowing two hits and the unearned run on one walk and two strikeouts.

Hawaii starter Jarrett Arakawa threw 80 pitches in five innings and gave up three runs in the first, but only one was earned. He walked three and struck out three scattering five hits and has an ERA of 1.06.

"We debated sending him back out there (for the sixth inning) and he said he could probably go, but he was definitely gassed," Trapasso said. "It’s still the first weekend of conference. He threw 80 today and hopefully we’ll get him up to 90 to 95 next week and he can give us seven innings instead of five."

UC Irvine starter Evan Manarino allowed three runs on five hits in 7 2⁄3 innings with three walks and a strikeout. Moore (2-2) gave up two hits and walked one in the four batters he faced but still managed the win.

Hawaii returns home to play UC Davis for four games starting Thursday. Only the first three will count toward Big West standings.

The Aggies are 3-0 in conference and 17-7-1 overall after sweeping UC Riverside.

"We’re behind the eight-ball, but we have a long way to go," Trapasso said. "All three games we played well enough to win and that’s your focal point. We’re playing well now but we’ve got to find a way to get over that hump and get a win and I’m convinced once it happens, the floodgates will open."

UC IRVINE 4, HAWAII 3

E–Ventimilia 2. DP–Hawaii 2. LOB–Hawaii 8, UC Irvine 8. 2B–Sawelson, Holland, Coss. 3B–Hiura. SH–Ka’aua, Sheldon-Collins, Alcantara 2. SB–Cooper, Cassolato 2, Brontsema.

Moore faced 1 batter in the 9th.
Umpires–(Plate): Carl Coles. (First): Rickey Scarbery. (Third): Jake Uhlenhopp. T–2:24. A–839.

BIG WEST STANDINGS

*includes one tie for overall record

Sunday
UC Irvine 4, Hawaii 3
UC Davis 13, UC Riverside 1
Cal State Fullerton 7, Cal State Northridge 2
UC Santa Barbara 4, Long Beach State 2
Oregon State 4, Cal Poly 2