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6-8 Hawaii Pitcher Ignites Near-Brawl After Walk-Off Win Sends Foe Packing For 5,000-Mile Return Flight

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Hawaii baseball player swings at a pitch.

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The Hawaii baseball team picked up a series win over Northeastern in non-conference action on Monday in dramatic fashion. After winning two of the first three games in the set, the Rainbow Warriors walked the Huskies off in extra innings.

Tempers flared after the fact. The sides were forced to be separated while going through the postgame handshake line.

The first three matchups of the series were not particularly close. The Rainbow Warriors won Game 1, 11-5. Northeastern returned the favor with a 7-1 victory in Game 2. Hawaii again took a series lead on Sunday with an 11-3 showing. Game 4 would decide the set.

The Huskies had a chance to even the score and return home happy with a road split. The home team had other plans.

The ‘Bows jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in the second inning. Northeastern tied things up in the fifth frame. The two offenses were then held scoreless until the 12th.

Emotions were high as pitchers piled up K after K. The two teams combined for 24 strikeouts. Northeastern starter Jack Bowery pitched 10 innings. Hawaii, meanwhile, used an arsenal of arms to piece together an outstanding performance.

The Hawaii baseball team ended Husky threats in both the top of the 10th and 11th innings. Northeastern had a man in scoring position each frame. The Rainbow Warriors then sparked fireworks in the bottom of the 12th.

Matthew Miura hit an RBI single to centerfield to plate the winning run. He’d been 0-5 at the dish before the at-bat. Things got testy soon after!

Video of players squaring up in the postgame handshake line surfaced on social media. 6-foot-8 Hawaii pitcher Jimmy Urban (No. 40) appeared to be leading the charge.

In the clip, you’ll see the lanky lefty bowing up to opponents on the frontlines. Teammate Anthony Andrews (No. 48) was doing some pushing and shoving, too.

Both players were eventually pulled away from the scuffle by teammates and coaches. The exchange ended without punches being thrown.

“Just a little kerfuffle,” said Hawaii baseball coach Rich Hill. “Emotions ran high. There’s some tough New England kids on that team, and we got some tough Hawaiians on this team.”

Adding insult to injury, Northeastern then had to board a plane and travel more than 5,000 miles back to Boston. The walk-off loss made the return flight all the longer.