NCAA baseball: Oregon vs. Hawaii Game 1

FINAL: It was a challenge early, but the Hawaii baseball team surged to a 6-4 victory over Oregon in tonight’s opener of a four-game series.

Of note:

> The ‘Bows were down 4-1 after five innings before rallying for five runs in the sixth. They did it against an Oregon bullpen that entered with a combined 2.14 ERA.

> Shortstop Kole Kaler did two good things in that inning. He singled up the middle to drive in the tying and go-ahead runs. Then with Scotty Scott on third, Kaler attempted to steal second, stopped at mid-path, and forced a rundown. Kaler stayed in it long enough to allow Scott to sprint home with the insurance run.

> OK, Scott also did a head’s up play. That rundown/score is actually a play the ‘Bows work on in practice.

> Jeremy Wu-Yelland, the fifth UH pitcher, got the final five outs for the save. Or, as Mike Trapasso said, “JY was JY.”

FINAL: #HawaiiBSB 6, Oregon 4 to open this 4-game series.

Jeremy Wu-Yelland with the strikeout to close it out.

UH improves to 9-5. pic.twitter.com/Wsqc8NMFLY

— Hawaii Warrior World (@hawaiiwworld) March 6, 2020

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The ‘Bows’ tough start could be capsulized in the third inning. With runners on first and second, Oregon’s Gabe Matthews hit a towering fly to center. But Matt Wong dropped the ball, then threw out Kenyon Yovan running from first to second. San Novitske went to third on the fielder’s choice. Aaron Zavala then grounded to second as Novitske scored from third. In a statistical quirk, Novitske’s run was earned even though he would not have been in position to score if Wong had caught the ball.

Oregon leads 3-0 after three.

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The Rainbow Warriors are breaking out their new uniforms — white jersey with “Rainbow Warriors” written in Los Angeles Dodgers font.

This is the second series between UH and a Pac-12 opponent. The ‘Bows and Washington State split a four-game set two weeks ago.

The ‘Bows went 1-2 the past weekend against Vanderbilt, the defending national champs.

The Ducks have won seven in a row following an 0-4 start.