Baseball Drops Season Opener, 5-2, After Late Hawaii Rally
BOX SCORE
HONOLULU – After jumping out to a 2-0 head start Thursday night at Les Murakami Stadium in Honolulu, Oahu, the University at Albany baseball team suffered a 5-2 season-opening loss to the hosting University of Hawaii Rainbow Warriors. The ‘Bows scored five unanswered runs, including four unearned, in their final three turns at the plate.
Senior southpaw Kevin Archbold had a solid first outing on the mound, leaving the game in position for the win, as he tossed six frames, and allowed one unearned run, four hits, and struck out five. Junior reliever Andrew Jaurique (0-1) took the loss, allowing three runs (one earned) on three hits in one-third of the seventh inning. Redshirt junior Stephen Carey threw the final one and two-thirds, giving up a run, while striking out two.
The Great Danes struck first in the season’s inaugural at-bats, as junior transfer Cory Kingston reached base on a fielding error, advanced to second on Brian Bullard’s groundout, and scored on Josh Nethaway’s RBI liner through the left side of the infield.
In the top of the fifth, UAlbany took a 2-0 lead, sparked by D.J. Hoagboon’s leadoff single up the middle. Sophomore Matt Hinchy followed suit with a single through the right side, and Hoagboon crossed the plate on a pair of errors coming off the bat of Kingston.
However, the rest of the game’s offense belonged to the ‘Bows. In the bottom of the sixth, Marc Flores touched every base, tripling to right field and then scored on a throwing error during the relay.
The Great Danes looked to rally in the seventh, as Hoagboon led off with a single and Alex Lushkevich walked to put two on. With two outs, Kingston singled, but a play at the plate ended the inning for UAlbany. In the game, Hoagboon led UAlbany with a 2-for-3 effort at the plate.
Trailing 2-1, Hawaii strung together a scoring combination in the bottom of the seventh, as Austin Wobrock lined a one-out double to center off Jaurique and moved to third when the ball was not fielded cleanly. Juliene Jones immediately followed with an RBI single to left, tying the ballgame. Jones moved into scoring position on a stolen base and scampered to third on a throwing error. Marcus Doi knocked in the go-ahead run with a single up the middle. After a call to the bullpen, Carey recorded a strikeout, but a hit batter and another throwing error gave the ‘Bows a 4-2 advantage.
Hawaii tacked on an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth, using a walk, balk, and fielder’s choice to their advantage.
‘Bows reliever Eric Gleese left the Great Danes hitless in the final two innings, garnering the save. Matt Cooper (1-0) earned the win, throwing seven full innings, allowing two runs (none earned), six hits, and struck out five.
UAlbany (0-1) and Hawaii (1-4) continue their four-game series Friday night at 6:35 p.m. HST (11:35 p.m. EST). Junior righty Cameron Sorgie and Hawaii left-hander Jarrett Arakawa will face off on the mound.
