Mānoa Magic Returns as Hawai‘i Takes Series Over Gonzaga
By Kennedy Choo
Mānoa Magic is back.
In the bottom of the 10th inning with no outs and runners on first and second, junior shortstop Elijah Ickes squared around to bunt, looking to drop down a sacrifice and load the bases. Ickes executed perfectly, forcing Gonzaga redshirt junior third baseman Mikey Bell to charge in, hoping to turn a double play.
Bell spun and tried to fire to the shortstop covering third, but the throw sailed long, drifting past the glove and into left field. Graduate second baseman Kody Watanabe slid into third, saw the ball roll out of play, and immediately took off for home to score the walk-off run.
“Once I saw him show bunt, I knew which way it was gonna go,” Watanabe said. “I got my butt to third as fast as I could, and once I saw the ball was gone, I went in to score.”
The Hawai‘i Rainbow Warriors (3–1) opened the 2026 season by taking two of three from the Gonzaga Bulldogs (1–3), highlighted by two walk-off wins at Les Murakami Stadium.
In Game 1, Hawai‘i and Gonzaga traded runs early. In the bottom of the fifth, graduate outfielder Ben Zeigler-Namoa grounded out to second base, allowing Cal Poly transfer Tate Shimao to score and give the ’Bows a brief edge. Gonzaga answered in the eighth when junior right fielder Ryder Young lined an RBI single up the middle to tie the game at 2–2.
Senior reliever John Alkire II shut the door late, tossing two innings of hitless relief with one walk and one strikeout to keep the game within reach.
Game 2 showcased Hawai‘i’s new faces in a 5–3 victory. Sierra College transfer catcher Jake Redding led the offense, finishing 3-for-4 with two doubles and two RBIs.
“I was just trying to be more aggressive at the plate,” Redding said. “It seemed to work for me.”
On the mound, Santa Rosa Junior College transfer and Hilo native Hekili Robello delivered a strong start, going six innings while allowing six hits and three runs and striking out seven to earn the win.
“It’s great to be back home in front of great fans,” Robello said.
Gonzaga picked up its first win of the season in Game 3, breaking things open with a five-run 12th inning. But the Rainbow Warriors saved their best for last.
In the finale, Hawai‘i trailed 3–2 late when Zeigler-Namoa came through again, lining a one-out single up the middle with runners on first and second to load the bases. Moments later, Redding checked his swing on a wild pitch, allowing Ickes to sprint home from third and seal another dramatic walk-off — and the series win.
Hawai‘i returns to action Thursday with a four-game series against Wichita State, beginning at 6:35 p.m. at Les Murakami Stadium. The game will air live on ESPN 1420 AM and 92.7 FM.
Photos: Jarin Kobashigawa
