Jordan Kurokawa had this night coming to him.
UH-Hilo not only had his back, but the Vulcans picked up their ace right-hander on a night he wasn’t at his best.
“Finally,” coach Kallen Miyataki said Thursday after the Vulcans thumped Fresno Pacific 13-4 for a split of doubleheader in California.
Kurokawa (2-3) struck out seven in seven innings of work, allowing eight hits, four runs and three walks. The senior saw his ERA rise almost a full run to 1.59, but he didn’t have to be perfect this time to earn his first win since Feb. 13, a span of four starts.
“Everything came together,” Miyataki said. “We moved the ball, we hit the ball.”
The Vulcans’ run total was more than in their previous eight games combined, including an 8-1 loss in the first game, and UH-Hilo (4-15, 3-13) didn’t commit an error.
Sunbirds pitcher combined to walk 13 batters.
Center fielder Michael Jenkerson moved to leadoff and ignited the lineup with three hits, including an RBI single in the fourth to spur a three-run rally that put UH-Hilo ahead 5-4. Jenkerson’s two-run single put UH-Hilo ahead 7-4 in the fifth.
Jacob Grijalva posted the Vulcans’ only extra-base hit, a double in the seventh to drive in a run, and Keaau graduate Jonathan Segovia drove in two runs.
Jordan Kumasaka finished with two innings of scoreless relief, walking two and striking out two as UH-Hilo snapped an eight-game losing streak.
In the opener, David Moody (2-4) lasted 7 2/3 innings but was tagged for seven runs and Jake Martinez (3-4) went eight innings for the Sunbirds (11-16, 6-7) allowed only one run, an RBI single by Hilo graduate Keenan Nishioka.
Jenkerson added two more hits.
The series concludes Friday with another doubleheader
