The 2026 Big West Championship opened with a 5-1 defeat for the Hawai'i baseball team as they fell to Cal State Fullerton in a tightly contested matchup at the Anteater Ballpark in Irvine, California.
Hawai'i drew first blood in the bottom of the second inning when Evan Rolbiecki’s RBI groundout slipped a run across the plate, giving the visitors an early 1-0 edge.
The Titans answered in the third with Paul Contreras delivering an RBI single that knotted the game at one apiece, setting the stage for a back‑and‑forth battle.
A Late Surge Secures the Win
Fullerton’s momentum shifted in the seventh when a timely bunt single and a wild pitch handed them a 3-1 lead, a cushion they would not relinquish.
Two more runs trickled in during the ninth as Hawai'i’s defense unraveled, the errors allowing the Titans to extend their advantage to 5-1.
Right‑hander Isaiah Magdaleno absorbed the loss despite a solid 6.1‑inning outing that yielded just two runs, while Mikiah Negrete turned in a complete‑game performance, surrendering only one run and striking out seven.
The victory capped a 27‑23 season for Fullerton and sent them into the next round, while Hawai'i’s campaign closed at 27‑23 overall.