Rare is the game that UH-Hilo’s baseball team hits three home run, but Joe Gallagher, Jaryn Kanbara and Joshua Fuentes on Saturday gave coach Kallen Miyataki a luxury.
When closer John Kea went back to the mound with seven-run lead in La Mirada, Calif., he told him: No walks. Let them hit the ball.
“And boy did they hit the ball,” Miyataki said.
So he went to the mound for visit.
“We had to change our strategy,” the coach. “I told him let’s get out of this.”
Kea struck out the last two batters to secure a 9-7 win to salvage the final game of the four-game set, sending UHH home after a 2-6 road trip.
“Wanted the split, always good to get the split,” Miyataki said.
That was made impossible when the Eagles won Saturday’s first game 10-6. Biola swept Friday’s doubleheader, winning 6-3 and 8-7. Concordia also took three of four from the Vuls.
“Two really good teams we played,” Miyataki said. “Good pitching, timely hitting.”
UHH (19-12, 8-10 PacWest) responded Saturday with a burst power in the second game. Gallagher hit a two-run shot in the first inning, Kanbara followed with a two-run homer in the third to make it 5-0 and Fuentes’ first college home run scored a runner to make 7-2.
Fuentes, a freshman from Puerto Rico, hit a no-doubter, his coach said.
“He told me his parents were ecstatic,” Miyataki said.
UHH finished with nine hits, including doubles from Kanbara, Kekaulike Kalua and Chris Aubort.
Starter Aaron Davies (4-1) was solid for UHH, allowing three hits, two runs and five walks and striking out seven in 5 2/3 innings (the contest was scheduled for seven). Kea earned his seventh save despite yielding a grand slam in the bottom of the seventh.
Kanbara and Gallagher are tied for the team-lead with four home runs. Casey Yamauchi went 9 for 20 at Biola (11-9, 8-4) and is hitting .411.
