‘Bows’ season ends with loss

The final two games of the 2015 season showcased Hawaii’s major downfall this season.

The Rainbow Warriors were held to two runs or fewer in 22 of 53 games after falling 8-1 to Arizona on Sunday at Hi Corbett Field in Tucson, Ariz.

Hawaii’s program-record third straight 30-loss season ended with six defeats in a row to finish at 21-32 overall.

The ‘Bows were .500 in the Big West Conference for the first time at 12-12 to finish squarely in the middle of the nine-team league, but only 9-20 in nonconference games.

The Wildcats (31-24) won both meetings against UH, which finished 1-5 against Pac-12 teams and 3-10 against major conferences.

Hawaii scored two runs in 18 innings against Arizona and had only four hits Sunday.

"Arizona is good. That’s what I came away with," Hawaii coach Mike Trapasso said.

Jacob Sheldon-Collins singled twice to finish the season with a .295 batting average. Matt LoCoco doubled and scored a run and Matt Miller singled as a pinch hitter in the ninth inning for the other hits.

Eric Ramirez, who started all 52 games before sitting out the finale, finished second on the team with a .270 average.

Starter Jarrett Arakawa became the eighth UH pitcher to start 50 games in a career, but dropped to 3-5 after allowing five runs on seven hits in 42⁄3 innings.

Shortstop Kevin Newman homered in the first inning and starter Bobby Dalbec went deep in the third inning for the Wildcats, who never trailed in either game.

"Offensively they are real good," Trapasso said. "They can really hit the mid-range velocity arms, which is Jarrett and Kyle (Von Ruden). They were testing the dimensions all day long with a lot of deep fly balls. They showed why they’re one of the top offensive teams in the country and they took care of business."

Dalbec improved to 3-7 allowing three hits and an unearned run in seven innings with one walk and three strikeouts.

The top six hitters in Hawaii’s starting lineup went 0-for-21.

UH’s only run came when LoCoco drew a walk and scored on a deep fly ball by Stephen Ventimilia that was dropped in center, allowing LoCoco to score from first.

Arakawa left the game with two on and two out in the fifth inning and was replaced by Kyle Von Ruden, who gave up a walk and two singles. Arizona then pulled off a double steal, with Tyler Krause scoring from third for a 7-1 lead.

Eric Gleese, one of eight UH seniors, recorded the final out of the ninth to finish the season with a 0.00 ERA in 121⁄3 innings.

Kaeo Aliviado was the only one to start all 53 games and finished his senior season hitting .248 with a team-high five homers, nine doubles and 31 RBIs. His five homers tied Marc Flores for the most in a season since Kolten Wong hit seven in 2011.

Hawaii’s top six hitters by average are all expected back next season and three were freshmen.

Arakawa was the only senior to start more than two games and throw more than 36 innings. Juniors Tyler Brashears and L.J. Brewster and sophomore Quintin Torres-Costa, who combined to throw 2321⁄3 of the 455 total innings are draft eligible and could be selected next month.

The MLB First-Year Player Draft is June 8-10.

Arizona 8, Hawaii 1

E—Baldwin, Bowman, Ramer, Behnke. DP—Hawaii 1, Arizona 1. LOB—Hawaii 6, Arizona 7. 2B—LoCoco, Gibbons. HR—Newman, Dalbec. HBP—Newman. SH—Behnke. SF—Gibbons, Maggi. SB—Krause, Gibbons. CS—Bowman.

Von Ruden faced 1 batter in the 6th.
Dalbec faced 1 batter in the 8th.
HBP—Newman (by Gleese).
Umpires—(Plate): Joshua Surridge. (First): Ted Kovach. (Third): Kellen Levy. T—2:19. A—2191.

Big West Standings

* — includes one tie for overall record; ** — won regular season and automatic bid into NCAA Tournament

Sunday
Arizona 8, Hawaii 1
END OF REGULAR SEASON