GAME 3: UC Irvine 4, Hawaii 3

LINEUPS

Hawaii 9-18, 0-2
Stephen Ventimilia, 2B (.244, 4 2b, 1 3b, 8 runs)
Alan Baldwin, RF (.284, 2 2b, 1 3b, 1 HR, 11 RBIs)
Kaeo Aliviado, CF (.279, 3 2b, 1 3b, 4 HR, 16 RBIs)
Marcus Doi, LF (.242, 4 runs)
Alex Sawelson, DH (.256, 2 2b, 9 runs)
Eric Ramirez, 1B (.277, 3 2b, 18 RBIs)
J.J. Kitaoka, 3B (.236, 3 2b, 1 3b, 1 HR, 15 RBIs)
Chayce Ka’aua, C (.206, 4 2b, 10 RBIs)
Jacob Sheldon-Collins, SS (.222, 2 2b, 11 runs)
LHP Jarrett Arakawa (1-0, 0.75 ERA, 12 IP, .125 BAA)

UC Irvine 13-10, 2-0
Mikey Duarte, SS (.345, 10 2b, 15 runs)
Grant Palmer, LF (.305, 11 RBIs)
Keston Hiura, CF (.352, 6 2b, 1 3b, 4 HR, 16 RBIs)
Andrew Martinez, 1B (.279, 6 HR, 12 RBIs)
Adam Alcantara, RF (.256, 1 2b, 5 runs)
Jerry McClanahan, C (.239, 3 2b, 1 HR, 7 RBIs)
Cameron Bishop, DH (.256, 3 2b, 3 HR, 12 RBIs)
John Brontsema, 2B (.245, 1 3b, 1 HR, 6 runs)
Parker Coss, 3B (.263, 1 2b, 7 RBIs)
LHP Evan Manarino (2-0, 3.65 ERA, 37 IP, 29 K)

No video for today’s game so this will be limited. ‘Bows need a win badly just to get something here in conference play.

TOP 1: Ventimilia breaks an 0-for-9 series skid with a leadoff single to center. Baldwin tries to bunt him to second coming off a 5-for-5 performance but can’t and strikes out. Aliviado flies out deep to center. Doi works a two-out walk to bring up Sawelson. Sawelson pulls the ball into the left-center gap for a two-out, two-run double UH has been badly in need of. Early lead for the ‘Bows and Arakawa.

BOTTOM 1: Duarte singles to lead off but Arakawa gets the double-play grounder to second by Palmer. Instead, Ventimilia throws it into left and everyone is safe. Second and third and nobody out. Hiura rips a two-run single back up the middle and Hawaii’s only lead of the series lasts about two minutes as it’s tied. Four-pitch walk to Martinez and out comes Trapasso. Runners move up on the bunt. A walk to McClanahan loads the bases. Bishop grounds out to first but it scores a run and Irvine takes the lead. Two of the three runs in the inning are unearned. Brontsema grounds out.

Arakawa has an uncharacteristic three walks but gets out of the third inning with a double play. Also, all three runs from the first inning have been changed to unearned runs so his ERA is now 0.60.

Both pitchers have settled in. Arakawa gave up a two-out double to Coss in the fourth and a one-out triple to Hiura in the fifth but no damage was done as Alcantara stares at a curveball for strike 3. Live stats has Arakawa at 79 pitches through five innings.

Arakawa is indeed done after his third consecutive start of five innings. He gives up three unearned runs on five hits with three walks and three strikeouts. His ERA is 0.53 in 17 innings.

BOTTOM 6: Valencia comes in and throws six straight balls before Hawaii turns a double play. UCI tried to fake a bunt and swing away and instead it’s a DP. A strikeout ends it. That could have been bad.

TOP 7: Kitaoka goes the other way for a base hit to lead off. Ka’aua gets the bunt down to move Kitaoka into scoring position. Sheldon-Collins is first-pitch swinging and flies out to left. Ventimilia pops up to shallow right-center and that’s that.

BOTTOM 7: Mitchell Holland gets a two-out double off Valencia, who then strikes out a tough hitter in Hiura to put up another zero.

TOP 8: Doi draws a two-out walk, his third base on balls of the game, and Manarino is done. Sam Moore comes in for second straight game and Sawelson singles for his third hit. First and second for Ramirez, who hit a two-run single off Moore on Saturday. Ramirez rips a 2-1 pitch to center for a single and Doi comes around to score. Hawaii ties the game. Kitaoka flies out to left on the first pitch.

Manarino will get a no decision. 7 2/3 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 3 K

BOTTOM 8: Didn’t see the play to lead off the bottom of the inning. Stats credits Ventimilia with his seconod fielding error but Mel Proctor on radio made it out to be a tough play and probable hit. Either way the leadoff man is on and UCI bunts him into scoring position. Cooper takes off for third and steals it on an offspeed pitch to McClanahan. Grounder to third is fielded cleanly by Sheldon-Collins keeping Cooper at third. Throw to first gets out No. 2. Cole Kreuter will pinch hit for Brontsema. Grounder into the hole in short and Sheldon-Collins tries to get the out at first but can’t. UCI takes the lead.

TOP 9: Ka’aua draws a leadoff walk to start the ninth. Sheldon-Collins bunts him over after Sean Sparling relieves Moore. Backup catcher Steven Pollakov pinch hits for Stephen Ventimilia. Pollakov is ahead 2-0 and then checks his swing and weakly grounds out to the pitcher. I’m stunned by that. Baldwin is Hawaii’s last chance and he grounds out to end it.

Breaking news item is here.

>> UH is now 0-9 against UC Irvine in conference play.

>> Hawaii is 3-14 in games decided by three runs or less.

>> UH has lost 20 of its last 24 league games.

>> Three of UC Irvine’s four runs scored Sunday were unearned.