Oregon struggled all night getting runners on base until they were down to their very last out.

Down 4-0 and with two outs in the top of the ninth inning the Ducks got back-to-back-to-back-to-back base hits to make a serious run at the hometown Hawaii Rainbows.

Freshman Shaun Chase and Scott Heineman were able to get on first with base hits and then Billy Flamion struck the third straight base hit and brought in Heineman to make it 4-1 in the ninth. Thomas Walker, another freshman, hit his second base hit of the night to load the bases.

But Oregon's rally fell short when following Walker's second hit of the evening the Ducks' Aaron Payne fouled a pitch off and Hawaii left fielder Kaeo Aliviado made a spectacular diving catch to seal the victory.

Oregon starter Alex Keudell (0-1) was held to a pitch-count and was pulled following the fourth inning and allowed four hits and one unearned run.

The Ducks and Rainbows play game two of the series at 8:05 p.m. (PT) on Saturday.

Notes: Alex Keudell was the starting pitcher in tonight’s game, the first time Tyler Anderson did not start on opening night for Oregon since the program was reinstated…Oregon is now 18-16 in season openers…Shuan Chase and Thomas Walker made their first start in an Oregon uniform…the first hit of the 2012 season was recorded by Brett Thomas on a single up the middle to lead off the fourth…Jordan Spencer made his first debut for Oregon on the mound, replacing Alex Keudell in the bottom of the fifth…freshman Thomas Thorpe made his first appearance for Oregon in the bottom of the eighth in relief of Joey Housey.