UC Davis rips Rainbows twice

For the University of Hawaii baseball team, Friday’s game was rained out.

Saturday’s games were blowouts.

UC Davis crushed the Rainbow Warriors 11-4 and 9-3 for a Big West doubleheader sweep at Les Murakami Stadium.

The ’Bows dropped to 21-14 overall, 3-5 in the Big West entering today’s finale of a three-game series. The Aggies improved to 12-19 and 5-6.

Dominic DeMiero, a left-handed junior, struggled in his previous two starts. In the nightcap, he retired the first nine batters he faced and worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the fourth. But he relinquished a run that tied it at 1 in the fifth, then unraveled in the Aggies’ five-run sixth.

DeMiero, who issued six walks in his first nine starts, walked three in the sixth.

In the first game, the Aggies amassed 15 hits against three pitchers and reached base in every inning.

UCD shortstop Jacob Thomas and first baseman Cameron Olson each had three hits. In the seventh, Olson pounded a two-run homer so deep that right fielder Alex Fitchett did not turn around.

Brendan Hornung, who entered third nationally in fewest walks per game, issued only one walk against the Aggies. But he struggled with his command, relinquishing 10 hits in five innings and inducing a mound visit from coach Mike Trapasso in the first. He exited with a 5-0 deficit, no outs and two runners in scoring position in the sixth.

The ’Bows scored four in the sixth to close to 6-4, with two of the runs coming on Eric Ramirez’s third homer of the season. But the Aggies added a run in the seventh and two each in the final two innings to move out of reach.

Robert Garcia, the Aggies’ left-handed ace, was listed as the starting pitcher in the lineups that were exchanged before Friday’s game was rained out.

But on Saturday, the Aggies decided to flip their rotation, moving Garcia’s scheduled start to today. The Aggies’ third-game starter, right-handed Justin Mullins, was moved to opening-game starter.

That forced the ’Bows to overhaul their mostly right-hitting lineup. They started four left-handed hitters against Mullins, who was effective through five innings before tiring in the sixth.

UCD right fielder Ryan Hooper had nine putouts, including a diving catch of Ramirez’s drive to deep right in the seventh. He also threw out Dylan Vchulek trying to tag up from first.

Hornung relinquished a game-opening walk, but then coaxed Caleb Van Blake to ground into a double play. Ryan Anderson then doubled into the gap in left-center. Olson and Ignacio Garcia were hit to load the bases. Alex Aguiar drew a walk on four pitches to drive in Anderson for a 1-0 lead.

Hooper opened the fourth with a double to right center. He advanced to third on Brad Plushkell’s sacrifice, then scored on Thomas’ sacrifice fly to center to make it 2-0.

The Aggies extended the lead to 6-0 with a four-run sixth. Aguiar opened the inning with a double and advanced to third on Mark Cardinalli’s single to left. Hooper then lofted a drive to right that Fitchett misjudged as the ball bounced toward the wall. Aguiar scored, Cardinalli went to third and Hooper coasted to second. Plushkell then singled home Cardinalli, ousting Hornung.

Thomas’ sacrifice fly then drove home Hooper. Plushkell then stole second, advanced to third on a passed ball, and scored on catcher Kekai Rios’ error.