The University of Hawaii at Hilo was playing at home for the first time in more than a month, but Wong Stadium wasn’t the place to be for fans looking to hear the crack – or ping – of the bat.
Hawaii Pacific’s Rico Garcia struck out 14 in racking up a couple of program records Friday, and the Vulcans were mowed down 23 times in getting swept, 12-3 and 4-0.
As is usually the case, Jordan Kurokawa kept UH-Hilo (7-32, 5-23 Pacific West Conference) in his start, but the junior right-hander was outdueled by Harley Holt, who pitched a two-hitter.
Holt struck out nine as almost of half off the Vulcans 48 outs on the day were via the strikeout. Meanwhile, they mustered just eight hits.
The Sharks (20-19, 13-15) had 20 hits in the first game alone as Garcia became Hawaii Pacific’s single-season (81) and career (211) strikeout leader.
Losers of seven of their last eight to HPU, the Vulcans take the field for another doubleheader at 10 a.m. Saturday.
Jordan Kumasaka (0-5) had pitched well against the Sharks last weekend in Honolulu, but he was hit hard in the opener, surrendering 10 hits and five run in two innings with a strikeout.
Jordan Murai was the Vulcans’ offense, getting to Garcia (5-4) for bases-clearing double in the eighth.
Garcia walked one in a five-hitter. Konawaena graduate Ryan Torres-Torioka had three hits, including an RBI double and a run-scoring single.
Trailing 1-0 in the second game, Hilo graduate Keenan Nishioka hit a two-out double, but he was thrown out at third base. Bryon Freitas led off the bottom of the sixth, but Sam Kim, UH-Hilo’s best hitter, lined into an inning-ending double play.
Hawaii Pacific finally got to Kurokawa (2-4) in the top of the seventh for three runs. Kurokawa’s line: 6 2/3 innings, 12 hits, four runs, two walks and five strikeouts.
