May 15, 2009

HONOLULU, Hawai'i -- Six runs over the first three innings held up as Hawai'i topped Utah Valley on Thursday night in the opener of a four-game series. Goose Kallunki drove in both runs for the Wolverines (16-34). Jace Brinkerhoff, who scored both UVU runs, also had two hits, upping his season total to 91.

The Rainbows (30-22) scored two runs in each of the first three frames to jump out to a 6-0 lead. After two in the first, Greg Garcia hit one of three Rainbow doubles to drive in two runs in in the second.

Christian Johnson doubled in the third to score Kolten Wong to make it 5-0. Johnson then came in on a two-out base hit to center from Kevin Fujii.

Utah Valley got on the board in the fourth when Brinkerhoff singled with one out and later came in to score on a two-out single by Kallunki.

The second Wolverine run came in the sixth, on Kallunki's second hit of the day, a single up the middle to plate Brinkerhoff.

Wong capped the scoring in the eighth with a solo home run to right, his 11th of the season.

UVU was stymied for most of the night by UH starter Jayson Kramer, who improved to 5-4 with the win. Kramer struck out seven over eight innings, allowing one earned run on seven hits. Aside from his strikeouts, he retired 17 of 18 Wolverine batters via groundout.

In his final startas a Wolverine, Jory Jensen overcame his early struggles and allowed just two hits over his final three innings. Overall Jensen (2-5) surrendered six run on nine hits in six innings. In two innings of relief, Riley Gordon struck out four hitters, his only blemish being Wong's home run.

The series will continue on Friday with another 6:35 p.m. HT first pitch.