
Hearts slam 'disgraceful' pitch invasion and report 'serious' abuse at Celtic Park
Hearts slam 'disgraceful' pitch invasion and report serious abuse at Celtic Park

The Hawaii baseball team lost 8-1 to Cal State Northridge on senior night, despite a sellout crowd. Adam Christopher pitched a complete game, striking out 12 batters and allowing only six hits.
In the end, the Hawaii baseball team’s undoing was neither the day-long rain nor the the lightning storm that caused a 30-minute delay.
It was an unheralded Cal State Northridge right-hander who baffled the Rainbow Warriors on senior night at Les Murakami Stadium.
An announced sellout of 4,354 — there were 2,431 through the gates — saw Adam Christopher pitch a six-hit complete game in the Matadors’ 8-1 victory. Christopher had never pitched past the sixth inning or thrown more than 67 pitches in his previous three starts.
But Christopher struck out 12 while hitting the zone on 84 of 118 pitches. It was the Matadors’ first complete game of the season.
Christopher said the game plan was to pitch into the fifth inning.
“We’re on that last game, and Coach (Eddie Cornejo) said, ‘you got it, let’s ride,’” Christopher recalled. “Once I came in the eighth, I said, ‘let’s go.’ I can’t thank my boys enough. They were making plays all day. It was a grind. I’m really appreciative. Once we were cruising, they were like, ‘go and enjoy it.’ It’s my last game in college. A tough pill to swallow, but it’s a great way to go out.”
Last summer, Christopher transferred from Reinhardt University in Waleska, Ga. Reinhardt’s enrollment (1,120) is half the size of Friday night’s crowd. But Christopher said he was inspired by the Matadors’ fans who made the trip and a curveball he developed in Little League.
“As a kid, I started ripping it,” Christopher said of the curve.. “Thankfully, it plays pretty well when I need it. I have to keep fine-tuning it.”
The outcome had no bearing on the both teams’ plans. The ’Bows, who finished the regular season 27-22 overall and 16-14 in league play, already clinched the fourth seed in next week’s five-team Big West Tournament in Irvine, Calif. The ’Bows will be the “home” team against Cal State Fullerton, UC Davis or UC Irvine in Wednesday’s play-in game. The Matadors, who needed to sweep this three-game series to keep their postseason hopes alive, lost the first two games and were playing for pride on Friday night.
While UH coach Rich Hill said the goal was to win the regular-season finale, he also wanted to provide a sendoff in the 17 seniors’ final game at Murakami Stadium.
“That’s what this night was all about,” Hill said. “These seniors getting to experience playing at Les Murakami Stadium in front of their family, friends and the very loyal fans here. I’m glad they had an opportunity to do that tonight. … This venue is so special — for these guys to have an opportunity to do that, that’s what this night is all about.”
Ben Zeigler-Namoa, who returned for his fourth UH season, said: “I think that was the goal tonight. I mean, we obviously wanted to go out and compete and give our guys a chance, and look at our depth pieces, as well. It’s not too great to lose. But I’m grateful and happy I got to meet all these guys and coaching staff. It’s been a wild ride, and I’m happy we’re continuing it.”
The final score was 8-1 in favor of Cal State Northridge.
Adam Christopher was the standout pitcher, throwing a complete game and striking out 12 batters.
There were 2,431 fans through the gates, despite an announced sellout of 4,354.
The team faced a day-long rain and a lightning storm that caused a 30-minute delay.

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In the top of the third, Will Linberg broke a scoreless game with a solo drive that tucked inside the foul pole in right for his second home run of the season — and the Matadors’ first run of the series. It ended a scoring drought of 23 innings.
In the fifth, Trent Abel walked and Linberg reached on an infield single to short. On a double steal, UH catcher Kamaehu Sanchez’s throw sailed into center field as Abel raced home for a 2-0 lead.
The ’Bows cut the deficit to 2-1 on Gabe Wright’s single to deep short in the bottom of the fifth inning.
But the Matadors answered with a three-run sixth for a 5-1 lead.
The Matadors added three runs in the eighth to end the suspense.