Box Score / Box Score (PDF)

Honolulu, HI - Wagner (0-2) took its first lead of the young season with a pair of runs in the top of the sixth inning, before Hawaii (3-3) rallied with three unanswered runs in the bottom part of the frame en route to a 5-2 win before 3,051 fans at picturesque Les Murakami Stadium in the second of a five-game set. Senior RHP Ryan Van Spronsen (Brantford, Ontario / Assumption College) was in midseason form, hurling 5.0 innings of one hit ball before leaving with a one-run lead, while senior Eddie Brown (Edison, NJ / St. Joseph's (Metuchen) / Seton Hall) paced a six-hit attack, going 2-for-4 with a double and a run.

The Rainbows struck for the game's first run in inning number one. Stephen Ventimilia led off with a walk. He then moved to second on a sacrifice before stealing third with one out. Collin Bennett followed with a run-scoring single that brought around Ventimilia, while opening the game's scoring.

Van Spronsen then settled down, retiring the next six batters in order en route to firing four hitless frames, which included facing just one over the minimum during that time. The Canadian native then exited after five solid innings, which included two strikeouts, just one hit and a pair of walks.

Unfortunately for the Seahawks, Van Spronsen's counterpart Jarett Arakawa was in complete control over his first five innings of work, yielding two singles while facing just two over the minimum. Arakawa struck out the side in the second and third innings while fanning seven-straight at one point, before the Green & White finally got to the lefty in the top of the sixth.

With two outs and junior Jayson Keel (Starkville, MS / Starkville / Holmes Community College) on first base, Brown roped a ground-rule double to centerfield that pushed Keel to third. Senior Tommy Higgins (Port Monmouth, NJ / Red Bank Catholic) then loaded the bases up after reaching on catcher's interference. Classmate Hayden Hunter (Santa Monica, CA / Notre Dame) followed with a two-out infield hit that tied the game up before Brown followed Keel to plate on a throwing error, staking the Green & White to a 2-1 lead.

Hawaii responded to Van Spronsen being lifted with three runs in the bottom of the fifth, using five hits - including two of the infield variety - in assuming a 4-2 advantage.

Each team went down in order in the seventh before Wagner threatened in the top of the eighth inning. Keel led off with a single before freshman Nick Dini (Monroe Township, NJ / Monroe Township) followed suit with a single of his own. However, RHP Brent Harrison escaped further damage, inducing a 3-6-1 double play and an inning-ending strikeout while keeping the Seahawks off the board.

The Rainbows would tack on an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth before setting down the Green & White in order in the ninth.

Harrison (1-0) picked up the win in relief, striking out two over 3.1 innings of two-hit ball, while freshman RHP Connor Smith (West Caldwell, NJ / James Caldwell) assumed the loss in his college debut, allowing four runs in 4.0 innings of relief.

Keel, like Brown, reached base safely twice (hit / walk) as Wagner only had seven baserunners.

For Hawaii, Bennett went 2-for-3 with two runs and two RBI while Arakawa struck out seven while two runs, one earned, on four hits and a walk over 5.2 innings.

The game was broadcast on Fox College Sports Pacific with the network also picking up Sunday's series-finale. Tomorrow the teams will play a doubleheader with the first game slated for 8:05 pm (EST).

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