May 17, 2008

HONOLULU, Hawai`i - Utah Valley dropped a 9-6 contest at Hawai`i on Friday, evening up a three-game series with the rubber game on Saturday at 6:35 p.m. local time in Honolulu.

The Rainbows (27-28) led 3-2 in the sixth with two outs and nobody on but were able to plate four runs to take a five-run lead that the Wolverines (16-36-1) couldn't recover from.

Ryan Jones had two hits and three runs batted in while Jace Brinkerhoff had two hits including a ninth inning home run and two RBI for UV. Brandon Haislet and Jonathan Hee were both 3-for-5 while Haislet had four batted in for Hawai`i.

The Wolverines trailed 3-0 before scoring two in the top of the sixth on RBI singles from Jones and Brinkerhoff.

After Aaron Brady retired the first two Rainbow hitters in the bottom of the sixth on two pitches, Kevin Fujii singled before a walk to Matt Roquemore. Greg Garcia then delivered a two-run triple to right-center, extending the lead back to three at 5-2. Hee and Haislet then both hit back-to-back doubles to cap the four run inning.

Utah Valley got three back in the seventh with two coming on a two-out, two-run single by Jones to trim the deficit to 7-5.

The Wolverines had a chance in the eighth with the bases loaded before Matt Daly got Tyler Garretson to fly out to left on a full count, ending the inning.

Brinkerhoff hit his eighth home run in the top of the ninth, but Hawai`i had a four-run cushion entering thanks to two in the bottom of the eighth.

The series and Utah Valley's season will conclude on Saturday with Marcus Moore (9-5, 3.11) making his final start on the mound for the Wolverines.