Hawaii baseball rallies past UC Riverside in dramatic 10-5 comeback win
The Hawaii baseball team secured a 10-5 victory over UC Riverside in a crucial Big West matchup. Played at Les Murakami Stadium, the win drew a crowd of 2,253 fans and helped the Rainbow Warriors climb the conference standings. The game took a dramatic turn in the seventh inning. Ben Zeigler-Namoa smashed a two-run home run, putting Hawaii ahead 6-5. The team then added four more runs in the same inning to extend their lead.
Earlier, UC Riverside had briefly led 5-4 after a bizarre play—a ball struck the second-base umpire, allowing an extra run. But Hawaii responded decisively. Andrew Rivas’ fly ball was dropped by Kamana Nahaku, letting Hunter Backstrom score the go-ahead run. Taylor Takata stood out offensively, going 3-for-4 with an RBI. His strong performance lifted his series batting average to .600.
The win moved Hawaii into a tie for fourth place in the Big West, matching Cal State Fullerton with a 13-11 record. With the top five teams advancing to the tournament, the victory strengthens their position in the standings. The Rainbow Warriors also claimed the series win with the decisive performance.
