ALAMEDA, California – The University of Hawai’i at Hilo baseball team fell short in two narrow road losses to Holy Names. University — 4-3 and 6-5 — Friday afternoon in Pacific West Conference action.
In the first game, the Vulcans surrendered three runs in the final frame as the Hawks got the walk-off win on a bases-loaded walk.
The inning started with a walk followed by a two-run homer by Esai Santos to tie the game up. HNU then juiced the bases with a walk, base hit and another walk. The Vulcans gave up a season-high of eight walks.
In game two, the Hawks had an answer every time for the Vulcans.
After tying the game at 2-2 with a pair of runs in the fourth inning, UH-Hilo jumped ahead with another pair of runs scored in the fifth on a bases-loaded two-RBI single from Cody Min. But HNU responded with three consecutive singles to tie the game, and taking advantage of an error to score another run.
Bradyn Yoshida drove in a run in the top of the sixth to even the score once again, but the Hawks one-upped with the game-winning score in the bottom frame on a wild pitch.
The Vulcans will play Academy of Art and Fresno Pacific starting Tuesday, through April 11.
UH-Hilo will return to Francis Wong Stadium to host HPU for their final home games April 21–23 before traveling back to O’ahu to close out the regular season with four more games against the Sharks April 28–30.
The four-team PacWest Championships postseason tournament will be held May 10–12 in Fresno, California.
The previously 22nd-ranked Vulcans dropped out of the latest National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association NCAA Division II poll released this past Wednesday.