Down to its last out, Biola’s Connor Kostecka hit a two-run double against UH-Hilo closer John Kea for a 9-8 walk-off win on Thursday in La Mirada, Calif., damaging the Vulcans’ postseason hopes.
The Eagles (28-18) have won five of six games against UHH (25-18) so far. The two teams wrap up the regular season with a doubleheader at noon Friday.
Biola scored seven runs against UHH ace Dylan Spain, who went four innings. The Vuls rallied to take an 8-6 lead into the ninth inning, behind the bullpen’s 3 1/3 shutout innings.
Jordan Tagawa pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings, and Devann Elson and Brandyn Lee-Lehano each added a shutout frame.
Jaryn Kanbara, Nick Lugo, and Dylan Sugimoto each hit homers for the Vulcans, who had 10 hits. Kanbara went 2 for 4 with two RBIs, Lugo was 2 for 3 with an RBI, and Sugimoto batted 2 for 3 with two RBIs. RJ Romo added two RBIs.
Kea went 1 1/3 innings in the loss and allowed two runs.
In the third, Sugimoto cranked a two-run homer to cut Biola’s lead to 4-2. UHH later scored an unearned run.
The Eagles added a run in the bottom of the third inning, and two in the fourth for a 7-3 lead.
The Vuls answered with a run in the sixth on Kanbara’s RBI single, two in the seventh on Romo’s two-run double, and two in the eighth on solo homers by Kanbara and Lugo.