Oregon baseball team beats Hawaii
JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO@STARADVERTISER.COM
Hawaii first baseman Alex Baeza scores on an RBI single by infielder Ethan Lopez during the fourth inning.
Cullen Kafka spaced six hits in seven innings to lead Oregon to a 3-1 baseball victory over Hawaii at Les Murakami Stadium.
A Friday night crowd of 1,831 saw Kafka, in his best start of the season, out-duel UH’s ace Dylan Thomas to even this four-game series at one apiece.
Kafka entered with a 4.41 ERA and 1.53 WHIP. But he frustrated the Rainbow Warriors with a biting sinker. Of the 21 outs when Kafka was on the mound, 14 were initiated by grounders.
The Ducks took advantage of 18 mph crosswinds to seize the first-inning lead against Thomas. Sam Novitske tripled when his fly ball swirled away from center fielder Daylen Calicdan. Novitske scored when UH tried to throw out Johnny DeLuca on a steal attempt at second. DeLuca scored on Gabe Matthews’ RBI single.
The outcome ended the ’Bows’ six-game winning streak. They fell to 8-6. The Ducks are 8-4.
