The University of Hawai’i baseball team lost both games of a doubleheader against Wichita State on Sunday at Les Murakami Stadium, ending their four-game series with two defeats. The Rainbow Warriors were beaten 13-3 in the first game and 7-1 in the second.
Despite the losses, Hawai’i managed to split the overall series, having secured wins earlier in the week with a 7-6 comeback victory on Thursday and a 4-2 win on Friday.
In the opener, Wichita State took control with an 11-run third inning. Alex Ulloa hit two three-run doubles during that frame, capitalizing on a fielding error by Hawai’i that extended the inning and led to seven unearned runs. Four pitchers appeared for Hawai’i in the third before Caleb Okada recorded the final out. Derek Valdez pitched 2.1 innings in relief and struck out three batters. Christian Hoffman was notable at the plate for Hawai’i, going 2-for-2 including hitting his team’s first home run of the season.
During game two, Wichita State scored early and maintained their lead throughout. The Shockers put up one run in the first inning and added two more in the third to take a 3-0 advantage. Hawai’i answered with a single run in the fourth after Elijah Ickes singled and Tate Shimao drove him home with an RBI base hit. However, Jaden Gustafson responded for Wichita State with a solo home run in the fifth, while Owen Washburn sealed it with a three-run homer in the seventh.
Hawai’i will return to play on Thursday at 6:35 p.m., starting another four-game series against Ball State.
