Of the 12 games during its losing streak, No. 12 was one of the most painful for the University of Hawaii at Hilo.
Phillip Steering’s error in the 12th inning allowed Chad Bolibol to score the winning run as Hawaii Pacific won 4-3 to sweep a doubleheader in Honolulu, despite a pair of strong pitching performances by Vulcans starters.
Bolibol had brought in the tying run with an infield single after the Vulcans took the lead on Keaau graduate Jonathan Segovia’s sacrifice fly in the top of the 12th.
Right-hander Jordan Kurokawa went seven strong innings for UH-Hilo (6-27, 4-22) and Michael Slifer pitched the final 4 1/3.
Sharks right-hander Rico Garcia dominated the opener, pitching a two-hitter with 11 strikeouts as Hawaii Pacific won 4-0 to open the six-game series. Nonconference doubleheaders are on tap Saturday (2 p.m.) and Sunday (11 a.m.).
In the nightcap, the Vulcans took advantage of an error in the ninth inning and got a big two-out hit from Will Cleary to tie the game.
They had the bases loaded with one out in the 11th but couldn’t score. Singles by Jordan Murai (2 for 6) and Steering (2 for 6) fueled the rally in the 12th.
Slifer stranded the bases loaded in the 11th but he gave up a leadoff double to Ty Tokunaga in the 12th. Slifer struck out three and walked three and was touched for four hits after Kurokawa yielded only two runs, one earned, on five hits and a walk with six strikeouts.
UH-Hilo also got a strong start in the opener
UH-Hilo left-hander Jordan Kumaska needed only 87 pitches to get through eight innings, but only Murai and Cleary managed hits against Garcia (4-4), who walked only one.
Kumasaka (0-4) allowed 10 hits, including Austin Inabata’s two-run single in the fourth inning, and three earned runs. The senior didn’t walk a batter and struck out two.
Konawaena graduate Ryan Torres-Torioka was 2 for 3 for the Sharks (14-18, 10-15 PacWest), then he finished 0 for 5 in the second game.
Samuel Kim had two hits in the nightcap for UH-Hilo.
