The Hawaii baseball team showed resilience and determination as they snapped their five-game Big West losing streak with a thrilling 4-2 victory over UC Davis on Saturday. Strong pitching from Harrison Bodendorf and timely hitting from Sean Rimmer propelled the Rainbow Warriors to victory at Dobbins Stadium.
Coach Rich Hill’s team got a much-needed quality start from Randy Abshier, who went six innings and allowed just two runs. This performance gave the UH bullpen a break after a tough outing in Friday’s loss. Bodendorf then took over and dominated on the mound, retiring the final 10 batters he faced to pick up the win.
In the top of the 10th inning, freshman Elijah Ickes drew a walk and Jordan Donahue was intentionally walked, setting the stage for Rimmer’s heroics. Pinch-hitting for Stone Miyao, Rimmer delivered a clutch single to center field to score the go-ahead run. Austin Machado added an insurance run with a single to right.
Bodendorf closed out the game in style, facing the heart of the UC Davis lineup and shutting them down with groundouts and a strikeout. The Rainbow Warriors battled back from a 2-0 deficit, tying the game in the eighth inning before taking the lead in extras.
With the series now even at a game apiece, Hawaii will look to secure the series win on Sunday. The team’s strong pitching and timely hitting have them back on track, and they will be aiming to build on this momentum moving forward.