HONOLULU, O'ahu – The Highlanders traveled to O'ahu to take on Hawai'i in a pivotal three game set with the Rainbow Warriors. Both teams are locked in a battle for the final spot in the Big West Baseball Championship later this month. Meaningful baseball for the Highlanders with just three short weeks to go.
Joshua Torres got the start for the Highlanders. Tonight was Torres' seventh start of the season as he looked for win number two on the year. In his last start the righty went six innings giving up three runs (one earned) for his second straight quality outing.
The Rainbow Warriors sent Isaiah Magdaleno to the mound with a 4-4 record and an ERA at 3.14. In his last start he went 2.1 innings giving up six runs (all earned) to Oregon State. It was his second time this season that he gave up six runs, the other being against Wichita State back in February.
The Rainbow Warriors struck first as they pushed a run across on an RBI single by Mana LauKong. And that was the only run scored in the game.
Magdaleno was on top of his game to start striking out 11 Highlanders through the first five innings and did not allow a hit. In fact, he was perfect through five. The perfect game ended a couple of innings later when
Lucas Bonham drew a one out walk.
The no-hitter continued until the ninth inning. With one out
David Whittle finally broke through and got UC Riverside's first hit of the game and their second baserunner of the night. Then
David Gibbs came up and reached on a fielder's choice and Whittle advanced to second. Whittle then made it safely to third, as Bonham reached on a fielder's choice. However, the Highlanders could not get that critical two out hit and the tying run was stranded 90-feet away.
Game two of the series is set for tomorrow night with first pitch at 9:35 pm (PST).
