The University of Hawaii baseball team avoided the rain clouds but couldn't escape the storm of UC Irvine's pitching, falling 5-1 in Sunday's Big West series finale at Les Murakami Stadium.
After seizing the first two games of the weekend, the Rainbow Warriors' offense was silenced, managing just four hits in the decisive third game. While the forecasted downpour never arrived for the 1,938 fans in attendance, UCI's bullpen provided all the showers needed, dousing any hopes of a Hawaii sweep.
The loss stings a bit more given the conference standings. Dropping to 18-14 overall and 8-10 in the Big West, the 'Bows missed a crucial opportunity to climb into a tie for fifth place—the final qualifying spot for the upcoming Big West Tournament.
Hawaii's challenge was compounded by the continued absence of shortstop Elijah Ickes, sidelined for a fifth straight game with a fracture in his left hand. Head coach Rich Hill indicated Ickes is unlikely to travel as the team embarks on a demanding 12-day, six-game road trip, a significant blow to the lineup.
The script flipped dramatically on the mound from the series' first two games. After UCI's starters struggled early on Friday and Saturday, Sunday saw the Anteaters' bullpen take center stage. Following a brief start from Jack Ross, left-hander Ricky Ojeda entered and dominated, firing four hitless innings. Righty Danny Suarez then sealed the deal, allowing three hits over the final three frames to earn a rare nine-out save.
"We knew we were in for a challenge today with Ojeda and Suarez waiting in the wings," said Coach Hill. "We felt the urgency to score before they got into the game, but we just didn't have an answer for their pitching."
Ojeda's performance was a return to his award-winning form. The 2023 Big West Pitcher of the Year—the first reliever ever to win the honor—had transitioned to a starting role this season with mixed results. Moved back to the bullpen last week, he looked utterly comfortable, overpowering hitters with a lively 93-mph fastball to strike out five.
"I feel good coming out of the bullpen again," Ojeda said. "It's easier to get that fire. I was throwing the fastball, and they weren't hitting it, so I figured I might as well keep going to it."
For Suarez, the save carried extra meaning, coming at the same stadium where he suffered a torn UCL in his elbow two years prior. His resilient three-inning effort to close the door symbolized a full-circle moment and secured a critical series-salvaging win for the Anteaters.