Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 | Box Score 3 When the CUI baseball team left for a series at Hawaii Hilo they were hoping to escape the storm that hit southern California this past week, but they found themselves dealing with rain in the aloha state as well.The Golden Eagles and the Vulcans played three games Saturday afternoon because heavy rain caused the second game of the series to be suspended late Friday night.

CUI 3, Hilo 4

This was game two of the series that had to be suspended Friday night due to rain. When the game was halted, Hilo held a 3-1 lead in the bottom of the sixth inning. Graduate student Nick Hansen got the scoring started for the Golden Eagles when he ripped a single down the left field line scoring junior Jake Schulz.

When play resumed Saturday afternoon, the Green and Gold made some noise in the last inning plating home two runs. One of those runs came thanks to Hansen singling again to left field scoring redshirt sophomore Michael Mira.

CUI 4, Hilo 6

In game three of the series, there was no rain that was stopping these two teams from playing ball. CUI got on the board first when redshirt junior Nathan Benefeito crossed home plate as a result of Hansen grounding out to third. Benefeito led the Golden Eagles in hits with three which included a double.

Freshman Makamae Du Pont got the start in the DH spot as it was a welcome home moment for him. The Hawaii native singled in his first at-bat of the game.

Sophomore Matt Des Marets got the start on the mound for the Green and Gold and went five innings while striking out four batters. Junior Matthew Williams came in on relief and only allowed two hits in his three innings of work.

In the top of the eight, Hansen the slugging first baseman went yard scoring junior Michael Dixon and himself to cut the Vulcan lead down to 6-4. The GCU transfer already has launched four homeruns on the young season.

CUI 2, Hilo 1

The last game of a four-game series was a good old pitching duel. The game stayed at zero through six innings.

Redshirt junior Brett Finnel toed the rubber for the Golden Eagles and tossed a total of 106 pitches on the night. The Riverside native collected 12 backward K's which was a season-high, and only allowed two hits in eight innings of work. Finnel earned his second win of the season helping the Golden Eagles to their first win in PacWest play of 2023.

Freshman catcher Owen Gott doubled down the left field line in the top of the seventh inning scoring senior Chris Butterfield to bring home the first run for either side.

With the game tied at one apiece the Green and Gold leaned on the senior leader Shane Wallace to bring it home. Wallace doubled to left center scoring Mira which proved to be the game-winning hit.

The Golden Eagles continue their Hawaii trip as they travel to Hawaii Pacific to start another four-game series Wednesday March. 1.

CLICK HERE for the full CUI baseball schedule