With its head coach suspended for the series and facing a six-run deficit heading into the ninth inning, the Hawaii baseball team had every opportunity to fold at Cal State Northridge's Hiegert Field.

Instead, "We didn't flinch," said Rainbow Warriors senior slugger Kamana Nahaku. 

In one of the wildest comebacks in recent program history, the Rainbow Warriors put up 10 runs in the top of the ninth inning to stun CSUN, 14-10, and take the rubber match of a three-game Big West series in Northridge, Calif., on Sunday.

Nahaku tied a school record with three home runs in a game, and launched five for the series. UH (20-6, 8-4 Big West), meanwhile, set a new mark with six long balls in a game and moved into sole possession of third place in the BWC.

"It was magical, truly," Nahaku told Spectrum News in a postgame phone interview.

"I think that this team just has such a belief in each other that it was never over until it was over," he said, "like you see it when we're at home and we have the fans behind us, but we finally put one together on the road and found a way to rally some runs together."

The Rainbow Warriors appeared well on their way to a second road series loss to a program not expected to vie for the conference title. But that changed dramatically minutes into the ninth when UH loaded the bases and Draven Nushida smacked a grand slam to right to make it a two-run game. Nahaku described a dugout that went ballistic.

"He came up it's a big moment, and he came (through) in a huge way, started the rally," Nahaku said.

Second baseman Shunsuke Sakaino, a San Diego native who transferred from CSUN in the offseason, followed with a one-out, two-run shot to tie the game at 10.

"That had to feel good for him, especially playing against his old team," Nahaku said. "I couldn't think of a better last at-bat for Shunsuke to have at his old home field."

Matthew Miura doubled in Jordan Donahue as the go-ahead run, Jared Quandt hit a two-out RBI single and Nahaku supplied the exclamation point, a two-run shot to left.

Seven of UH's 14 hits came in the top of the ninth. The 'Bows had three homers, a double and three singles in the frame, in which CSUN went through relievers Gabriel Hernandez, Logan Miller and Tyler Mejia. UH also drew two walks and a hit-by-pitch.

Isaiah Magdaleno (3-0) worked the last three innings for the win. He sat down the Matadors in order in the bottom of the ninth after getting tagged for three runs in the eighth.

Nahaku, who is from Auburn, Wash., but whose grandfather hails from Hilo, hit solo shots in the fifth and seventh.

"Just kind of trying to stick to the approach that our coaches try to drill into our heads, just not letting fastballs go by, and being ready for the off-speeds, trying to put good swings on every pitch," he said.

CSUN (6-17, 3-9) got two home runs and five RBIs from catcher Xavier Rios, who batted ninth.

UH coach Rich Hill missed his second straight game while suspended by the Big West for getting ejected for arguing in Friday’s series opener won 15-10 by the Matadors. Assistant coach Dave Nakama assumed leadership.

"I think it honestly might have motivated us more, because we know that Rich Hill has such a love for the game," Nahaku said. "He's such a good coach. And when we when we lost him, everyone kind of stepped up more, and it kind of lit a fire under us."

UH returns home to face Division II neighbor Hawaii Pacific (19-14) on a quick turnaround at Les Murakami Stadium on Tuesday, then hosts Long Beach State (10-16, 4-8) for a three-game series starting Friday.

Note: This story was updated with an interview with Kamana Nahaku.

Brian McInnis covers the state’s sports scene for Spectrum News Hawaii. He can be reached at brian.mcinnis@charter.com.