Hawaii 6, Wichita State 1: Connor Little pitched eight solid innings, and Conner George hit a bases-clearing triple as the University of Hawaii beat Wichita State in the opener of their five-game series at Les Murakami Stadium in Honolulu.
BASEBALL
Hawaii 6, Wichita State 1: Connor Little pitched eight solid innings, and Conner George hit a bases-clearing triple as the University of Hawaii beat Wichita State in the opener of their five-game series at Les Murakami Stadium in Honolulu.
The Warriors (3-15) scored four runs in the fourth inning to break a 1-1 tie and earn their first two-game winning streak of the season. With one out in the fourth, Marc Flores walked, Andre Real singled and Kaeo Aliviado walked to load the bases against Tobin Mateychick. George greeted reliever Albert Minnis with a triple to right to put Hawaii ahead 4-1. George crossed the plate on Trevor Podratz’s groundout.
Podratz doubled in the seventh and scored on Piikea Kitamura’s hit.
That proved more than enough run support for Little (1-3), who yielded a run in the first inning before finding his groove. The senior right-hander scattered seven hits and a walk with four strikeouts.
Stephen Ventimilia singled and stole second and scored on a double play groundout in the bottom of the first for Hawaii, and Real was 2-for-3.
Tyler Baker went 3-for-4 with a double for the Shockers (11-9), including an RBI single in the first to bring in Casey Gillaspie, who had doubled.
In 3 1/3 innings, Mateychick yielded three hits, four runs and four walks with a strikeout.
Upcoming schedule
Today’s game
Wichita State at Hawaii, 6:35 p.m.
SOFTBALL
Record: 22-7 overall (0-0 Big West)
Upcoming schedule
Saturday’s game
Hawaii at Cal State Northridge (DH), 9 a.m.
Sunday’s game
Hawaii at Cal State Northridge, 9 a.m.
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Air Force 69, Hawaii 65: Mike Fitzgerald hit six 3-pointers, finishing with 25 points Wednesday night asthe Falcons lit it up from long range at Stan Sheriff Center to defeat the in the first round of the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament in Honolulu.
Isaac Fotu led the way with 24 points and Christian Standhardinger added 16 points and eight rebounds for the Warriors (17-15), who missed a on a shot to take the lead late and finished the season on a four-game losing streak.
The Falcons (18-13) made only nine baskets from inside the arc, but they thrived from behind it, shooting 15-of-31.
Both teams had their moments in the first half. Air Force opened by scoring 19 of the game’s first 24 points, but Hawaii countered with a 24-4 run to take a six-point lead two minutes before halftime.
The Warriors hung around in the second half despite shooting just 32 percent — including 2-of-12 on 3s.
Meanwhile, Air Force kept making 3-pointers.
The Falcons took the lead for good on Cameron Michael’s 3-pointers with 12:03 left to play, and they built the lead to six on three occasions, the last time on Kyle Green’s 3 with 2:55 remaining.
Fotu answered with a jumper and Hauns Brereton made a pair of free throws to cut the deficit to 67-65 with 43 seconds left. But after Hawaii forced a steal, Brereton missed a 3-pointer and Fitzgerald iced the game on the free-throw line.
Green made four 3-pointers and finished with 18 points on 7-of-14 shooting. He added six assists.
The second round of the CIT will be held Saturday and Sunday, and the matchups are to be announced.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Record: 1 7-13 overall (13-5 Big West)
Upcoming schedule
WNIT
First round
Today’s game
Hawaii at San Diego, 3 p.m.
MEN’S VOLLEYBALL
Record: 7-14 overall (6-12 Mountain Pacific Sports Federation )
Upcoming schedule
Friday’s game
Pacific at Hawaii, 7 p.m.
Saturday’s game
Pacific at Hawaii, 7 p.m.