In a comeback that was more gritty than pretty, the Hawaii baseball team surged to a 9-5 victory over Portland to earn a split of Saturday’s doubleheader at Les Murakami Stadium.

After dropping the opener 7-4, the Rainbow Warriors faced their first 0-3 start to a season since 2014.

But with the ’Bows down to their last out in the eighth, Alex Baeza blasted a three-run homer to tie it at 5.

Three walks later, Adam Fogel, UH’s top slugger, was plunked by a pitch, forcing in Daniel Crasnack with the go-ahead run. Second baseman Matt Kelly’s throwing error and Dallas Duarte’s two-run double polished off the ’Bows’ seven-run eighth.

The ’Bows trailed 5-2 when Ethan Lopez ripped a grounder that third baseman Brett Gillis mishandled. Duarte followed with a single to left.

Left-handed reliever Cole Wilkinson, who precedes each pitch with a three-sway motion, induced Brennen Hancock to fly out to center. Connor White replaced Wilkinson and struck out pinch hitter Logan Pouelsen.

But Baeza drove White’s next pitch over the wall in right-center to tie it at 5.

“Just a fastball over the middle of the plate,” said Baeza, a left-swinging first baseman. “It looked pretty fat. I tried not to do too much. I was getting too big on my swings early in the game. I was trying to keep it simple. I got the head (of the bat) out enough, and the ball just jumped out.”

Freshman catcher Crasnack, Scotty Scott and Maaki Yamazaki all walked, setting the way for Fogel.

Fogel said he saw Connor White’s pitch break inside. “I was like, ‘I’m not getting out of the way. We’re going to win this game.”

Fogel said the plunk did not hurt. “That’s why I wear this,” Fogel said, pointing to the padded guard on his left arm.

Duarte proved his versatility. He was the catcher in the first game and the second baseman in the second. He went 3-for-4 with two runs and two RBIs.

Cade Halemanu, a 2018 Pearl City graduate, got the final four outs to earn the victory.

In the first game, Fogel’s two bases-empty homers were not enough.

Fogel rebounded from Friday night’s 0-for-4 performance. On Saturday, Fogel rocketed a shot over the wall in left field to tie it at 1 in the bottom of the fourth.

The ’Bows did not score again until Fogel homered once more in a three-run ninth. But the late surge would not be enough against the Pilots.

Through eight innings, right-hander Nate Packard mystified the ’Bows, allowing four hits and one earned run. Packard struck out seven and walked one. Packard, who threw an economical 85 pitches, escaped a second-inning jam when he induced Yamazaki to hit into a double play. Packard retired six in a row during one stretch and eight of nine in another.

Stevens and catcher Hunter Montgomery hit home runs for the Pilots. Yamazaki had half of the ’Bows’ four hits in the first game.

The outcome spoiled freshman right-hander Aaron Davenport’s UH debut. Davenport earned a spot in the rotation after strong performances in preseason scrimmages. He pitched three scoreless innings before surrendering Stevens’ homer to center in the fourth. In 51⁄3 innings, Davenport struck out six and permitted five hits, two walks and two runs.

The teams meet at 1:05 p.m. today in the series finale.