With its starting pitcher not at his best, the University of Hawaii baseball team relied on an ensemble cast for Saturday night’s 8-2 victory over Sacred Heart at Les Murakami Stadium.
The Rainbow Warriors pounded 10 hits and coaxed seven walks to win their fifth in a row, including the first three of this four-game series, and improve to 9-5. The Pioneers, who have yet to play a home game this season, fell to 5-9. Today’s series finale begins at 1:05 p.m.
“This game was about scoring some runs,” UH coach Mike Trapasso said. “You get that early lead, and it helps a guy who doesn’t have his best stuff.”
Neil Uskali was noticeably different from a week ago when he pitched a shutout in Minnesota. On Saturday, he allowed seven hits, including a first-inning homer to Alex Perry, in six drama-filled innings.
“Neil wasn’t very good tonight, honestly,” Trapasso said. “He had no command of the zone. But he was able to find a way to make pitches when he had to.”
Uskali’s best pitch is a change-up. “He probably threw two good ones,” Trapasso said. “But the guy grinds it and really competes.”
Shortstop Dustin Demeter went 2-for-2, scoring a run and driving in two. He used his 30-ounce bat to pull both hits to right field.
“The approach hasn’t changed,” Demeter said. “I’m just seeing (the ball) a little better now.”
Adam Fogel, who has been bothered by a hamstring issue, went 2-for-2 with a walk and a sacrifice fly. Trapasso wanted to start Fogel, who has hit well against left-handed pitching this season.
“I came in and asked our trainer, and he said (Fogel) was good to go,” Trapasso said. “It’s exciting. He’s a big part of what our offense is capable of doing.”
A night after amassing four hits, the ’Bows charged to a 4-1 lead in the second inning. They added a single run in the sixth and moved out of reach with a three-run seventh.
“When you’ve got that three-run lead, it takes the pressure off (Uskali) knowing you can survive a mistake,” Trapasso said. “That was big. People don’t understand how important it is to go out to a lead.”
Dylan Thomas pitched two scoreless innings. Casey Ryan got the final three outs.
Except for reliever Jackson Aldam, who did not allow a run in 32⁄3 innings, the Pioneers struggled with their control. The Pioneers combined to throw an arm-numbing 165 pitches in eight innings.
The Pioneers shuffled the rotation, moving their ace, John Sostarich, to the third spot. Sostarich entered with a 2.08 earned-run average, limiting opposing hitters to a .163 average. But those glossy statistics were smeared when Sostarich struggled with his control. Sostarich lasted 11⁄3 innings, with nine of the 13 batters reaching base on five hits, three walks and a hit batsman.
The ’Bows tied the score at 1 in the bottom of the first when Demeter pulled a double to right field, went to third on Kekai Rios’ single, and scored on Fogel’s sacrifice fly to left.
The ’Bows chased Sostarich with a three-run second. Josh Rojas and Marcus Doi reached base on a hit by pitch and walk, respectively. Dylan Vchulek was hit by a pitch. But home plate umpire Bob Williams refused to award Vchulek the base, ruling he had leaned into the pitch. Vchulek then doubled to left-center, scoring Rojas and sending Doi to third.
Demeter then singled to right to drive home Doi and Vchulek for a 4-1 UH lead.
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