Hilo, Hawaii – The combination of a complete-game performance from Joe Davis, not leaving runners in scoring position and timely errors by Hawaii Pacific University led the University of Hawaii at Hilo to a 6-3 victory in the first game of a five-game series.

"You have to give all the credit to Joe," UHH head coach Joey Estrella said. "He kept us in the ball game."

The senior right-hander gave up seven hits and a walk while striking out nine. Only one run was an earned run.

In previous performances, Davis got into trouble late in the game before giving the ball to a reliever. But even after HPU's Paul Nishimura's lead-off double in the ninth inning, there was no question in Estrella's mind if Davis would remain on the mound.

"It was his game and we were going to stick with him," Estrella said. "Once the tying run came up to the plate we might have considered making a change but the way he was going, it was his game all the way. He was the difference tonight."

After catching the next batters pop up, Davis struck out the final two batters.

[[i:384:n:l]]At the plate, lead-off batter Ronel Trias and ninth batter T.J. Brown posted near identical 3 for 4 nights with two runs scored. Brown also picked up a pair of RBI.

"Those two guys swung the bat really well and afforded us the opportunity to score," Estrella said. "Ronel has to be the catalyst for the offense as our lead-off batter and T.J. has been swinging the bat pretty well."

The pair scored in the third inning as Keoni Manago tripled to right-center field.

The Sea Warriors (30-17-1) took the lead with a 3-run fourth inning.

In the seventh, Brown and Trias collected singles. Manago hit a grounder to the pitcher who tossed it underhand over the first baseman's glove. That was enough for Brown and Trias to score.

Brown added a two-run single in the eighth to end scoring.