Neil Uskali recovered from a rough start and an opening home run to pitch six strong innings, and Adam Fogel and Kekai Rios homered as Hawaii beat Seton Hall 3-2 and gained a split of the four-game series in Honolulu.
Fogel’s solo shot put the Rainbow Warriors (14-8) ahead 3-2 in the bottom of the sixth, making a winner of Uskali (4-1), who allowed an unearned in the top half of the inning to tie the game. The senior right-hander struck out six and allowed six hits, four in the first inning, including Rob Dadona’s leadoff home run for the Pirates (9-11-1).
Uskali retired 11 in a row into the sixth as Hawaii grabbed the lead.
In the second inning, Hilo High grad Chayce Ka’aua, playing catcher, led off with a double and scored on two ground outs. Kamehameha graduate Daylen Calicdan got his fifth start of the season, and was 1 for 3 at designated hitter. The redshirt freshman is 5 for 16 on the season.
Rios, playing third base, drilled a solo home run to left center in the fourth, his first of the season. Fogel’s home run was his team-leading third.
Logan Pouelsen provided two innings of relief, allowing two hits with two strikeouts, and closer Dylan Thomas struck out two for his sixth save.
Hawaii makes its second trip to the mainland for its Big West opener, starting a a three-game series at UC Irvine (12-10).