Hawaii’s Dylan Thomas was looking for a school record.
Instead, he found trouble.
UC Santa Barbara’s Cole Mueller lined an RBI single into right center off Thomas with two outs in the ninth inning Friday to lift the Gauchos to a 6-5 win for their second consecutive one-run victory in the season-ending series in Santa Barbara, Calif.
Dustin Demeter’s home run to lead off the top of the ninth put the Rainbow Warriors (26-24, 10-13 Big West) back in front, but Thomas couldn’t hold the lead.
Demeter’s blast came in an 18-pitch at-bat.
Thomas (3-2) was called on to get seven outs in what could have been his record 15th save – he’s tied with Lenny Linsky (2011) for the UH single season mark.
Thomas, a sophomore right-hander, gave up his first two-walk inning and gave up the tying run in the eighth. In the ninth, Tommy Jew reached on a one-out single and went to third on Thomas Rowan’s double to center. Jew scored on pinch hitter Sam Cohen’s sacrifice fly to tie it at 5 for the second out, then Mueller delivered.
The loss secures a losing conference season for UH.
Maaki Yamazaki hit a two-run single to put the ‘Bows ahead 3-0 in the second, and Dylan Vchulek and Ethan Lopez also each posted two hits, including RBI singles.
Logan Pouelsen pitched 3 1/3 innings of shutout relief after starter Brody Hagel-Pitt also went 3 1/3.
With its third walkoff win in its past four home games, Santa Barbara (27-27-1, 13-13) won its first series since April 27-29 against UC Riverside.
Hilo High graduate Chayce Ka’aua, a senior, didn’t play after making the final out as a pinch-hitter in a 4-3 loss Thursday.
The teams finish the season with a game at 11 a.m. Saturday.
