HONOLULU — Joshua Green’s infield single with the bases loaded and two outs in the ninth gave Hawai’i an 8-7 come-from-behind victory over the Sacramento State baseball team, Sunday afternoon at Les Murakami Stadium. Sacramento State held a 7-5 advantage heading into the ninth inning but could not prevail as the Hornets fell to 5-4 on the season while the Rainbows improved to 6-1.Sacramento State led 3-1 after two innings following a two-run home run by freshman Aaron Powell in the second and an RBI single by junior Jesse Schmidt in the first. Hawai’i picked up a run in the first on an RBI single by Rocky Russo. For Powell, a native of Aiea, Hawaii, it was his first collegiate home run. The Rainbows would even the score in the third with an RBI single by Tim Montgomery.
The Hornets picked up two more runs in the fifth after an RBI groudout by Schmidt and an RBI single by sophomore Pedro Santiago. Freshman Jim Strombach opened the inning with a walk and junior Cliff Hinkle followed with an infield hit to second. Both runners advanced on a sacrifice bunt by junior Chris Kinsey and Schmidt drove in Strombach with a groudout to second. Santiago followed with his single to center field which scored Hinkle from third.
Hawai’i cut the lead to 5-4 with runs in the sixth and seventh before Sacramento scored two more runs in the eighth. Santiago and junior Rocky Gracio hit back-to-back singles with one out before Powell advanced the runners on a ground ball to second. Senior Corey Watts followed with a single to center that drove in both runners.
The Rainbows picked up run in the eighth to make it 7-5 before scoring the final three runs of the contest in the ninth. Russo opened the inning with a base hit up the middle then Jaziel Mendoza singled to the right side. After Arthur Guillen foul bunted with two strikes and Drew Jackson flew out to right, junior pitcher Andy Mohr walked Tyler Wightman and Brian Finegan to make the score 7-6. Freshman Joe Guntz would enter the contest and walked Brent Cook to tie the game. Green then hit a shot up the middle which deflected off of Guntz and rolled to second base. Hinkle tried to make a play at first but could not beat Green to first with the throw.
Senior Steve Cuckovich started the contest for the Hornets and picked up a no-decision after allowing two runs on five hits in five innings of work. Hinkle led the Hornets offense by finishing 3-for-5 with two runs. Santiago, Gracio and Watts also finished with multiple hits to lead the Hornets. Schmidt, Powell and Watts led the squad with two RBI each. Head coach John Smith, who is still in search of his 700th career win, was ejected in the seventh inning.
Mike Peck picked up the victory for the Rainbows after pitching a perfect ninth. Russo led Hawai’i with a 4-for-5 performance while Finegan finished 3-for-3.
Sacramento State will next host Saint Mary’s on Friday, Feb. 21, at 2 p.m. at Hornet Field.
