The Hawaii baseball team’s offense was dormant for much of its expedition to Hawaii Island. But after five innings of pent-up energy, the Rainbow Warriors were ready to erupt on their Division II sibling.
UH, coming off a much-discussed loss to No. 13 NC State on Sunday, broke open its midweek game with 14 straight runs from the sixth through ninth innings in a 15-2 rout of Hawaii Hilo in front of a packed house of more than 3,000 announced fans at Francis Wong Stadium on Wednesday night.
In Manoa’s first game at Hilo since 2016, the Rainbow Warriors (4-4) mustered only one hit through the first five innings, and Hilo (8-10) came in to score on a wild pitch by Rylen Bane in the third to tie it at 1-1.
Finally, Elijah Ickes hit a two-run double in the sixth and Kyson Donahue followed with his first homer of the season in the seventh, a solo shot. Matthew Miura hit a bases-clearing double in the eighth, and Jared Quandt had a pinch-hit three-run shot in the ninth.
Freshman Itsuki Takemoto got his first career start and struck out two and hit a batter in his only inning of work as coach Rich Hill went to a by-committee approach with a four-game series against Holy Cross starting Friday at Les Murakami Stadium. UH used seven pitchers, with Danny Veloz and Alex Giroux going two innings. Veloz, a junior college transfer, picked up his first Division I win.
Ickes went 3-for-4 with three RBIs in the leadoff spot. Donahue was 2-for-2 with three runs scored and Miura was 2-for-3.
Four Hawaii Island natives saw action for UH: catcher Dallas Duarte, who started in left field; second baseman Stone Miyao; pinch hitter Bronson Rivera; and reliever Tai Atkins.
Hilo used 11 pitchers. Devin Meyer took the loss with four runs charged in 1 2/3 innings.
Brian McInnis covers the state's sports scene for Spectrum News Hawaii. He can be reached at brian.mcinnis@charter.com.