Rainbows sweep UCR

For the first time in six games, Hawaii used a different reliever than Andrew Jones or Quintin Torres-Costa.

Junior Kyle Von Ruden followed the lead the two left-handers have set over the past month, closing out a 9-2 win over UC Riverside with 5 1⁄3 shutout innings.

Jacob Sheldon-Collins had his third three-hit game of the trip with three RBIs and catcher Chayce Ka‘aua was 2-for-3 with three runs scored to finish off the Highlanders (13-35, 2-16 Big West) at the Riverside (Calif.) Sports Complex.

The Rainbow Warriors (21-26, 12-9) completed their first 6-0 road trip under head coach Mike Trapasso to clinch no worse than a .500 record in Big West play.

After finishing 17-34 combined in its first two seasons in the Big West, Hawaii has turned things around over the past month of the season, winning six straight road games for the first time since 2006.

"It’s just fun to watch the kids play with confidence and we just played well every game," Trapasso said. "We got the pitching, the defense and great execution on offense."

Hawaii had thrown the same five pitchers for 48 2⁄3 innings before Von Ruden was called upon to relieve starter Jarrett Arakawa with two outs in the fourth.

Trapasso didn’t make a call to the bullpen the rest of the game as Von Ruden (2-3) held the Highlanders to three hits, earning his first win since Feb. 21.

"I really thought that was special seeing Kyle come out there having not had any opportunities in a long time and being as sharp as he was," Trapasso said. "He was ready and he was good — came in and settled the game and did a really great job. I’m really proud of him."

Hawaii finished with 13 hits and was led by Sheldon-Collins, who finished the road trip hitting .619 (13-for-21).

After UC Riverside scored first to take its first lead of the series, Sheldon-Collins and Ka‘aua singled and scored on a throwing error to put UH ahead 3-1.

The Highlanders had closed to 3-2 when Sheldon-Collins hit a two-run single in the top of the seventh to make it 5-2.

Alex Sawelson added a two-run single to cap a four-run inning and Sheldon-Collins’ RBI single in the eighth gave Hawaii a comfortable 8-2 lead.

"When you’re getting production from the bottom of your lineup like that, you’re going to have a chance to win a lot of games," Trapasso said.

Stephen Ventimilia singled, stole a base, scored twice and drove in two runs and Sawelson finished with two hits.

Alan Baldwin was 2-for-5 with an RBI and Marcus Doi was 2-for-3 with a run scored.

Von Ruden combined with Jones and Torres-Costa to allow two runs on 10 hits in 171⁄3 innings with eight walks and 17 strikeouts during the road trip.

Hawaii improved to 15-1 when scoring at least six runs and gave itself something to play for next week.

UH is still technically alive to win the Big West with Fullerton leading the league at 13-4.

The Titans play at UC Santa Barbara on Sunday before playing at UH next week.

Hawaii will be the first team to wrap up conference play. After that, they’ll play a single game against Abilene Christian and two games vs. Arizona in Tucson to close out the season.

E–Chavez. LOB–Hawaii 6, UC Riverside 10. 2B–Baldwin, Weeks, Fernandez. SH–Weeks, Sheldon-Collins. SF–Ventimilia. HBP–LoCoco. SB–Ventimilia.

Gonzales pitched to 4 batters in the seventh HBP–LoCoco (by Kron). Umpires–(Plate): Joe Maiden. (First): Mel Gatson. (Third): Scott Keene. T–2:42. A–374.

Saturday

Hawaii 9, UC Riverside 2

Cal State Fullerton 10, UC Santa Barbara 1

UC Irvine 9, Cal Poly 6

UC Davis 10, CSUN 2

Indiana 7, Long Beach State 2

Sunday

UC Santa Barbara at Cal State Fullerton

Cal Poly at UC Irvine

CSUN at UC Davis

Long Beach State at Indiana