New faces introduced themselves at the plate, while a returnee dazzled on the mound.

Senior Nate Klein allowed two hits over six shutout innings and junior college transfer David Freitas hit two doubles and scored twice to lead the varsity team to a 6-0 victory in the annual alumni baseball game yesterday at Les Murakami Stadium.

Freshman Piikea Kitamura added a two-run triple and sophomore transfer Collin Bennett had an RBI triple for the Rainbows, who rebounded from a tie in last year's game to shut out the alumni.

Vinnie Catricala, who signed with the Seattle Mariners last summer after his junior year, had one of the alumni's three hits and had high praise for UH's starting pitcher.

“;(Klein) was real good,”; Catricala said. “;He did a real good job of mixing up his pitches. They're going to be real good this year.”;

Hawaii's starting lineup included four newcomers. Freshman Breland Almadova started in the leadoff spot and stole a base, but the real damage came from Freitas, Bennett and Kitamura, who hit sixth, seventh and eighth.

Freitas put the first run of the season on the board in the second with an RBI double that drove in designated hitter Jeff Van Doornum. Bennett then followed with a run-scoring triple to right field, showing off some speed as he motored into third base.

The combo came through again in the fourth inning, with Freitas blooping in his second double of the game. Bennett followed with a four-pitch walk and Kitamura lined a triple to right field that scored two runs.

“;(Freitas) is a big, strong guy, and I think everybody is going to enjoy watching him,”; Hawaii coach Mike Trapasso said. “;(Bennett) is making a few changes with his swing and it's a work in progress, but when he puts it together, he's going to be a good player for us.”;

Klein, who was on a 90-pitch limit, made it through six innings, striking out four and walking one as he prepares to be the team's opening-day starter.

“;I thought Klein was solid, not great, but solid. He needs to improve a little on his first-pitch strikes, but he was efficient with his off-speed stuff,”; Trapasso said.

After the starters staked the 'Bows to a 6-0 lead, UH's second lineup mustered only one hit over the final three innings on a single by shortstop Jesse Moore.

Junior college transfer Zach Gallagher scattered three hits over two innings backing up Klein and Lenny Linsky, who is the favorite to take over the closer duties, pitched a perfect ninth.

The alumni's best chance to score came in the second inning as Matt Inouye ripped a one-out double off Klein and Evan Zimny drew a walk. Inouye tried to score on a double-steal, but was thrown out at home by Greg Garcia.

Hawaii (32-26 a year ago) opens the regular season on Friday, hosting No. 10 Oregon State at Les Murakami Stadium for a four-game series.