Star-Bulletin file photo
Derek Tatsuno struck out 10
in his Hawaii debut in 1977.

From a doubleheader sweep of BYU in 1975 to a thrilling 3-2 win over Miami last season, UH's first home date has always been special

By Al Chase
Star-Bulletin

UNIVERSITY of Hawaii head baseball coach Les Murakami hasn't been shy about scheduling a tough opponent for the Rainbows in the season opener at Rainbow Stadium.

Since the first Rainbow Stadium opened in 1975, the Rainbows are 17-6 in openers at the campus facility.

It is no surprise that all six defeats have been to Pacific 10 Conference teams - two losses to both UCLA and Southern Cal and one each to California and Washington.

On the other hand, UH has won eight openers against teams from the Pac 10, still the best baseball conference in the West and one of the top three in the country.

Only twice, against the University of Hawaii at Hilo in 1980 and Hawaii Pacific University in 1983, have the 'Bows opened against a non-Division I opponent.

Tonight's game against the University of San Francisco marks the first time UH has played a West Coast Conference team on opening night.

Highlights of Rainbow Stadium opening games:

1975: The Rainbows begin their first all-collegiate schedule in a new, on-campus stadium by sweeping a doubleheader from Brigham Young. In the opener, Shelly Dramin is 3-for-5 and Ed Gilliam's two-run double in the sixth inning snaps a 2-2 deadlock. Ben Flores is the winning pitcher. Hawaii 6, Brigham Young 4.

1976: The Rainbows are held to three hits, but take advantage of six Iowa State errors. Royden Kotake has two hits and Gene Ober gets the other. Flores wins his second consecutive opener and Gene Smith picks up the save. Hawaii 5, Iowa State 3.

1977: Freshman Derek Tatsuno makes his Hawaii debut with a 10-strikeout, no-walk performance. Paul Mize is 3-for-3. Vern Ramie's three-run double highlights a six-run fifth inning that propels the 'Bows to victory. Hawaii 7, Vanderbilt 5.

1978: Freshman Thad Reece has a two-run single in the fourth, then hits his only career Rainbow Stadium home run, a solo shot in the sixth inning. The winning pitcher is Rich Olsen. Hawaii 5, Oklahoma 3.

1979: Ramie's sacrifice fly scores the game-winning run in the sixth inning. Curt Watanabe is 3-for-3 and left-hander Mark Olmos strikes out 13 Beavers. Hawaii 2, Oregon State 1.

1980: Olmos becomes the second UH pitcher to register two opening-game victories as the Rainbows score seven runs in the first inning and three in the second. Les Kakazu is 3-for-5, Howard Dashefsky 2-for-2 and Jay Erdahl has two RBIs. Hawaii 10, Hawaii-Hilo 3.

1981: Hawaii suffers its first season-opening loss and Chuck Crim's winning streak (15-0 the previous year as a freshman) ends. California's Mitch Hawley stops the 'Bows on two hits over the final 21/3 innings. All the runs are scored in the first six innings. Collin Tanabe has a homer and three RBIs for the Rainbows. California 10, Hawaii 9.

1982: Bryan Duquette's six strikeouts in four innings of relief helps UH overcome Southern Cal. Kakazu's two-run single in the sixth breaks a 6-6 tie and Mario Monico's two-run triple in the seventh gives the 'Bows breathing room. Hawaii 10, Southern Cal 7.

1983: Glenn Braggs, Peter Ho and Terry Derby had two hits each and Monico goes 3-for-4 in the Rainbows' first-ever meeting with Hawaii Pacific College. David Smith is the winning pitcher. Hawaii 11, Hawaii Pacific 4.

1984: Fans are kept outside until a half-hour before game time as construction workers finish bolting down the seats in the new 4,312-seat stadium. Southern Cal's Mark McGwire is 3-for-4 with two doubles and two RBIs. Todd Crosby and Greg Vasquez had two hits each for the Rainbows. Southern Cal 5, Hawaii 3.

1985: Hawaii's five-run rally in the eighth inning overcomes a 7-4 UCLA lead. Kelsey Isa, Dan Nyssen, Jason Espiritu, Markus Owens and Crosby knock in the runs. The win goes to reliever Chuck Kane. Hawaii 9, UCLA 7.

1986: Hawaii hands Arizona State its first loss of the season after six wins. Jeff Vierra saves the victory for brother Joey by striking out the last two Sun Devils in the ninth, halting a three-run rally. Hawaii 6, Arizona State 5.

1987: The Rainbows are limited to four hits by three Southern Cal pitchers. The Trojans come through with five extra-base hits. Southern Cal 8, Hawaii 4.

1988: Hawaii manages just six hits, but takes advantage of 11 walks by San Jose State pitchers. A seven-run second inning makes it easy for UH and starting pitcher Norman Holt. Newcomer Brian Hart starts two double plays from his shortstop position. Hawaii 9, San Jose State 2.

1989: Clint Kelson, one of three freshmen who form the starting rotation, pitches UH's first opening-game shutout. John Matias and Todd Takayoshi hit home runs. Matias has three RBIs. Hawaii 11, Nevada-Las Vegas 0.

1990: Brady Perreira pitches shutout ball for seven innings, but Hawaii's 2-0 lead disappears in the top of the eighth. UCLA combines a walk, two of its three hits and a throwing error by shortstop Randy Vollmer for three runs. UCLA 3, Hawaii 2.

1991: Takayoshi and Jon Viela had two hits each and Tim Albert has two RBIs, but the Huskies rally for a run in the eighth inning to break a 5-5 tie, then score two insurance runs in the ninth inning. Washington 8, Hawaii 5.

1992: Harold Cabbab's one-out, two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning with Erik Evans on base deals the Wildcats their first loss after four wins. Chris Dugger is 3-for-4 with three RBIs and Craig Tucker earns the victory in relief. Hawaii 7, Arizona 6.

1993: Matt Apana escapes a bases-loaded, no-out situation in the top of the sixth inning and Sy Farinas singles in two runs in the bottom of the inning to break a 3-3 tie. Franz Yuen goes 3-for-4 with three RBIs, including two in the eighth with a double, as UH stops the 13th-ranked Sun Devils. Hawaii 9, Arizona State 4.

1994: Reliever Andrew McNally's strike to catcher Tyler Cheff catches California's Gavin Brown trying to steal home in the top of the ninth to preserve the victory for Mitchell Miyoshi. Shawn Rogers knocks in three runs with three hits, including a two-run homer. Hawaii 9, California 8.

1995: Freshman Troy Glaus' three-run homer highlights a five-run fifth inning for the Bruins, and four UCLA pitchers limit the 'Bows to six hits. Neal Honma scores UH's only run on a throwing error in the first inning. UCLA 5, Hawaii 1.

1996: Mark Johnson, a preseason All-American, pitches seven innings, walks just one and fans 11 to lead the 'Bows. Robert Medeiros and Jamie Aloy each have three RBIs. Hawaii 7, Washington State 2.

1997: Medeiros scores the winning run in the bottom of the 10th inning on Key Voshell's fielder's choice grounder to shortstop. UH scores twice in the second on RBI-singles by Sean Murphy and Aloy. Troy Yoshimasu gets the win in relief of McNally, who pitches five-hit ball over the first eight innings. Hawaii 3, Miami 2.