HONOLULU, Hawaii – Wichita State could not hold a 6-0 lead as Hawaii scored four runs in the seventh and three in the eighth to rally for a 7-6 win on Thursday night at Les Murakami Stadium.
 
The Shockers (4-1) squandered a brilliant start from Matthew Cuccias, who held the Rainbow Warriors (4-1) without a hit over 6.0 scoreless innings while striking out five. Cuccias allowed just one baserunner on an error and promptly erased it via a double play, facing the minimum in his first D1 start.
 
Hawaii took advantage of wildness from the WSU bullpen, as relievers Brady Owens and Amar Tsengeg each walked two batters to open the seventh and all came in to score, thanks in large part to an infield single from Jake Redding paired with a Shocker throwing error that plated another run. A sacrifice fly from Evan Rolbiecki made it 6-4 heading to the eighth.
 
A double and a single opened the home half of the inning, trimming the lead to 6-5. Reliever Ryan Morrison (0-1) retired the next two batters but then walked Tate Shimao and surrendered a go-ahead two-run double from Kody Watanabe that proved to be the difference.
 
Hawaii closer John Alkire II nailed down the save in the top of the ninth, inducing a game-ending double play from Zeb Henry to end the game.
 
Grant Garman (1-0) earned the win for the Rainbow Warriors, firing 3.0 scoreless innings while allowing just one hit and striking out five.
 
The Shockers built their lead with a four-spot in the top of the third. Jack Quick and Owen Washburn each rapped two-out, two-run singles against Hawaii starter Isaiah Magdaleno to open the scoring. That tandem smacked consecutive doubles in the sixth to extend the lead to 5-0, then Max Kaufer produced Wichita State's final run of the evening with an RBI single.
 
The Shockers and Rainbow Warriors continue the series on Friday night. First pitch is scheduled for 10:35 pm CT.