HONOLULU, Hawaii – Longwood struck first in the first inning for the second straight time against Hawaii, but the Rainbow Warrior offense banged out 10 hits and also took advantage of four Longwood errors to win 9-1. A crushing blow came in the fifth as Hawaii rattled off five runs on four hits, an error and a walk with two more batters being hit by pitches to transform a one-run lead to six. Meanwhile, Hawaii's pitching staff kept Longwood off-balance all game and limited the Lancers to four hits.
Heading into the fifth, Hawaii led 2-1 after both teams scored in the first inning. With one out in the fifth, Jack Kennelly singled up the middle. With runners at first and third, an error by Longwood starter
Tyler Morgan scored another run, and Hawaii loaded the bases. Alex Baeza was hit by a pitch, and Logan Pouelsen and Maaki Yamazaki both poked RBI singles to push the lead to 7-1.
Todd Moxey came on in relief of Morgan (0-2), who took the loss, and was able to get out of the inning, but the damage was done. Morgan surrendered seven runs (five earned) on six hits and three walks while striking out four.
"On the mound we didn't challenge the zone, didn't make plays and didn't have competitive at bats," said Longwood head coach
Ryan Mau. "That is a recipe for disaster and the outcome today reflects that."
Longwood outfielder
Cullan Wadsworth helped the Lancers (3-7) get off to a strong start in his first game batting in the leadoff spot in place of
Antwaun Tucker. The freshman knocked a single to right field and advanced to third on an error on the play.
Nate Blakeney grounded out to short to send him home for an early 1-0 lead. Wadsworth has now reached base safely in five straight after going 2-3 at the plate for his first multi-hit game as a Lancer.
"Cullan is doing an excellent job," said Longwood head coach
Ryan Mau. "He is putting great at bats together and filled the leadoff role well today in Tucker's absence. I love the way he competes and plays the game hard every pitch."
Hawaii answered with a pair of runs on two hits and two walks against Longwood starter
Tyler Morgan in the bottom of the first. Alex Baeza tied it with an RBI single before Ethan Lopez hit a sac fly to right field to make it 2-1.
Dylan Thomas (2-0) picked up the win for Hawaii with seven innings of one-run ball while posting 11 strikeouts and one walk.
Game three of the four-game series starts Sunday at 6:05 p.m. (EST) at Les Murakami Stadium.
"We need more guys to step up and produce like they are capable," said Mau. "That goes for pitchers, hitters and defenders. As a whole, we are not very consistent game to game and we need to develop a team identity quickly."
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