The UH-Hilo baseball team is finding new ways to lose, and considering its record, that’s hard to do.
Holy Names rallied for three runs in the ninth inning of both ends of a doubleheader Monday, securing walk-off wins, 3-2 and 7-6, that extended the Vulcans’ losing streak to 12.
The teams entered with a combined Pacific West Conference winning percentage of .195, and the Vulcans (4-27, 3-23 PacWest) were in control for 16 innings in Alameda, Calif., before losing their grip – twice.
In the opener, David Moody (2-5) took a two-hitter into the ninth before his masterpiece went up in smoke.
After a one-out double, Moody got the second out on a grounder, but the Hawks (6-20, 9-21) pulled through with four consecutive hits, including Sean Carrington’s tying single and Ryan Fujinaga’s game-winning single.
Seemingly undeterred, the Vulcans came back strong and backed ace Jordan Kurokawa with 13 hits, five of them doubles.
Keaau graduate Jonathan Segovia hit an RBI double in the second and Phillip Steering collected a two-run double in the fifth.
Oh, but for the ninth.
Deric Valoroso, who wiggled out of a jam unscathed in the eight, allowed an infield single and a hit to center and was relieved by Jordan Kumasaka (0-4), who yielded a run-scoring hit to the only batter he faced. Eric Vegas came on and got two quick outs, but Jake Dentoni tied the game with a single down the left field line, Carrington coaxed a walk, and Trent Carrier’s single to right gave Holy Names another chance to celebrate.
In seven innings, Kurokawa struck out eight, allowing seven hits – including a two-run home run to Carrington – and four runs with three walks. After eight starts, his ERA sits at 3.29.
Michael Jenkerson, Kyle Yamada, Jacob Grijalva, Sean Nearhoof and Edison Sakata each had two hits for the Vulcans.
In the first game, UH-Hilo mustered just five hits, getting RBI singles from Yamada and Jaron Manago.
Moody struck out six and walked two in 8 2/3 innings.
The teams will play another doubleheader Tuesday.
Vuls fifth
The UH-Hilo men’s golf team was in fifth place after the first round of the PacWest Championship on the Wigwam Golf Course in Arizona.
David Tottori carded in a 2-over 74 and was tied for eighth place in the 50-player tournament. Two strokes back and tied for 15th place was Jared Kinoshita at 4-over 76. Kyeton Littel was tied for 20th place at 5-over 77 while Ric Yamamoto and Conor Morley were tied for 27th place at 7-over 79.
The Vulcans turned in a 306 and trailed Brigham Young University-Hawaii by 13 strokes. The Seasiders topped the board with a 293, followed by Dixie State University (294), California Baptist University (297), Dominican University (301), UH Hilo, Hawaii Pacific University (311), Holy Names University (315), Academy of Art University (316), Chaminade University (317) and Notre Dame de Namur University (334).
BYU-Hawaii’s Brent Grant led the tournament with a 3-under 69.
• Alison Tengan was tied for eighth place after the first round of the PacWest Championship on the Wigwam Golf Course.
Tengan carded in a 9-over 81 to lead three UH-Hilo players in the field. Tied for 20th place is Kristen Sawada at 13-over 85 while Kimberly Katayama is in 37th place at 25-over 97.
Point Loma’s Michelle Picca led the field at even-par 72 while California Baptist’s Marvi Monsalve is three strokes behind at 3-over 75.
Cal Baptist led the team race with a 309. They were followed by Point Loma (323), Academy of Art (326), Dominican (327), Dixie State (341), Hawaii Pacific (348) and Holy Names (352), UH-Hilo has only three players in the field and do not qualify for the team title.
