Steven Pollakov grounded out with the tying run on second in the top of the ninth inning as No. 15 UC Santa Barbara held on for an 8-7 win over Hawaii on Saturday afternoon at Caesar Uyesaka Stadium in Santa Barbara, Calif.

The Rainbow Warriors (13-13, 1-1 Big West) trailed 8-0 before scoring seven unanswered runs against the Gauchos (19-4, 1-1).

Marc Flores went 4-for-5 with an RBI and Kaeo Aliviado hit a three-run triple as Hawaii matched its season high in hits with 14 for the second straight day.

Joey Epperson had four hits, scored twice and drove in two runs for UCSB, which tagged Hawaii starter Scott Squier (3-2) for six runs on six hits in four innings.

Eric Gleese allowed one hit and no walks in three shutout innings of relief allowing Hawaii to mount a comeback.

Austin Pettibone (2-0), pitching for just the second time this season, allowed three hits in five shutout innings to earn the win.

Dillon Tate worked the final two innings to earn his sixth save despite allowing five hits.

Hawaii had the bases loaded with one out in the eighth inning when Stephen Ventimilia hit into a double play as Pollakov was thrown out at home trying to tag up on a fly out to center.

Matt Miller hit a pinch-hit RBI single in the ninth to cut the lead to 8-7 before Tate recorded the final out.

The series finale is Sunday at 10 a.m. Hawaii time. Left-hander Jarrett Arakawa (1-0, 2.03) will get the start for the ‘Bows.