By KEVIN JAKAHI
Tribune-Herald sports writer
The damage was already done, but at least there was a bit of silver lining under the rumble for the University of Hawaii at Hilo baseball team with the play of shortstop Keenan Kaluau and pitching of Micah Nakasone.
Grand Canyon walloped the Vulcans 10-5 in a Pacific West Conference game on Friday at soggy Wong Stadium in the third of a four-game series.
The back end of the doubleheader finished after the Tribune-Herald’s deadline.
Justin Lindsey went six strong innings, struck out nine, and survived a shaky first inning, throwing 43 pitches and allowing three runs, for the Antelopes (7-12, 5-10 PacWest).
Austin Buelow pitched one-run relief over three innings for the save. He recorded three strikeouts, giving Grand Canyon 12 punchouts, a stark contrast to UHH’s pitch-to-contact philosophy.
The Vulcans (4-7, 1-6) don’t really have any power arms, one reason for the Antelopes’ 17 hits and a trouble spot when runners got into scoring position, and batters hit the ball, which often found holes.
Losing pitcher Seamus Yoneshige went four innings, allowed seven hits and four runs, and struck out one. Gaven Kinoshita followed with two innings, three hits and three runs, and whiffed two. Jordan Kumasaka lasted 12/3 innings, gave up seven hits and three runs, and struck out one.
Nakasone was the last and most effective UHH pitcher. He went 11/3 scoreless innings, entering the eighth with the bases loaded and two out and got a flyout. The sophomore right-hander didn’t get a strikeout, leaving the Vuls with four strikeouts.
The game was tied 4-4 heading to the seventh when the Antelopes started stringing hits off Kinoshita, who eventually gave up the go-ahead run, and left with two on and no out. Kumasaka couldn’t stop the bleeding, and after the inning was over Grand Canyon led 8-4.
“It’s a little disappointing. We had the lead early in the game. For us to be successful, we have to minimize the big inning,” UHH coach Joey Estrella said. “We didn’t execute what we needed to do. Against a good team with that kind of pitching, we can’t make too many mistakes.
“We look for pitchers in control, throwing strikes and forcing contact. I can live with a guy getting a basehit. But if you don’t throw the ball over the plate the defense will be back on its heels and that’s a problem.”
UHH’s defense wasn’t a problem. There were two errors, which led to an unearned run. Throwing strikes wasn’t a problem. The Vuls walked six in all. It’s just that Grand Canyon got lots of hits against a staff that doesn’t produce a lot of strikeouts.
It started with Tagg Duce, who had a productive day: 4 for 4 with four runs scored. Derek Mendoza also tormented UHH pitching. He went 4 for 5 with three RBIs and Jackie Samora was 2 for 5 with three RBIs.
Brad Fairweather went 2 for 4 with an RBI and Greg Cleary was 1 for 4 with two RBIs to lead the Vuls, who finished with eight hits.
Kaluau had a tough day at the plate. He was 0 for 4 with a run scored and struck out three times. But that didn’t affect his play in the field, where he had five putouts and five assists.
In 10 games and 56 chances, the freshman from Kamehameha-Maui has just two errors. He showed a shortstop’s instincts, footwork and good arm while ranging to his right, scooping a ball on the run and firing to first for one of his five assists.
“He’s going to be a good one,” Estrella said. “For a freshman, he’s much more mature for how he reacts to things and how he approaches the ball. He’s excellent.”
In a 13-inning game on Thursday, Casey Bohlmann pitched seven innings of one-run relief in UHH’s 5-4 win. In the second game of the doubleheader, Grand Canyon won 7-1.
GCU 201 010 420 —10 17 2
UHH 301 000 010 —5 8 2
