Jordan Kurokawa was overpowering in the late game Tuesday. Korin Medeiros homered in the early game a day later as the University of Hawaii at Hilo was backed by doses of solid pitching.
But the Vulcans were a day late and a dollar short on all accounts in their four-game series against Dixie State at Wong Stadium.
With little margin for error against one of the top teams in the Pacific West Conference, the Vulcans made far too many. They combined for six Wednesday and lost 9-2 and 5-0, extending their losing streak to six games.
UH-Hilo (5-12, 3-9) managed just three hits in the nightcap. Starter Chris Hubocan was hanging tough and down 2-0 when a one-out error in the sixth helped the Red Storm tack on three more runs, all unearned.
Dixie State (9-7, 4-0) left town with nine-game winning streak. The Red Storm played a tough nonconference schedule, losing four times at Cal Poly Ponoma (14-4) and three of four to No. 4 Colorado Mesa State.
The Vulcans won’t be back at Wong until Hawaii Pacific visits for a six-game set starting April 17.
The Red Storm jumped on freshman Eric Vega in the first game and led 8-1 after the top of the third. UH-Hilo’s run came courtesy of Medeiros’ second home run of the season. The Waiakea graduate has only gone hitless twice this season and is hitting .339.
Jarin Kadooka threw 6 1/3 innings of solid relief, but Sean Nearhoof, a junior catcher who stresses the fundamentals, was no doubt none too happy that UH-Hilo hurt itself with four more errors.
The Vulcans could have used their nine hits – William Cleary was 3 for 4 and Nearhoof and Medeiros each had two – on Tuesday night when Kurokawa struck out nine and left after eight innings with the game tied 1-1. Closer Michael Slifer retired his first two batters, but an error opened the door for a rally and the Red Storm won 2-1.
Though it didn’t make any errors in the series opener, little went right in Dixie State’s 16-3 win in the series opener in which Jordan Kumasaka was knocked out in the fourth and charged with seven runs.
The Red Storm connected for 19 hits off four pitchers. Edison Sakata and Phillip Steering had two hits apiece for the Vulcans.
UH-Hilo hits the road for the first time this season for a 14-game trip that begins March 21 at Azusa Pacific.
