Vulcans baseball, softball see mixed success in weekend series

UH-Hilo’s baseball and softball teams each played two Pacific West Conference doubleheaders on Friday and Saturday in Hilo — with baseball going 2-2 against Biola and softball going 1-3 against Dominican.

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BASEBALL

The Vulcans opened the series with a 2-0 sweep of the Eagles on Friday, but Point Loma evened it out with two wins as UH-Hilo fell 8-3 and 4-2 on Saturday at Wong Stadium.

The plague of defensive errors was flipped from the Eagles to Vulcans as Day 1 of the series saw Biola commit a combined seven errors to none from UH-Hilo. In Saturday’s rematch, the Eagles put out a clean sheet while the Vulcans combined for four defensive miscues.

With the score tied 1-1 heading into the top of game three’s seventh inning, Biola managed to bring the bats alive for seven hits to drive in seven runs — four of which were unearned.

UH-Hilo began to rally in the bottom of the eighth, starting with a lead-off double by Bryce Tweedt. After the next batters were put out, the Vulcans strung together back-to-back-to-back base hits to plate two runs, cutting the deficit to 8-3.

Vulcans got two runners on in the final frame of play, but that would be it as Cody Hirata was tagged with the loss, giving up five runs (two unearned) in 1.1 innings of work. Ty Honda was also charged with two unearned runs.

UH-Hilo pitchers also gave out seven free passes to first base while Biola surrendered just two.

In game four, Aaron Davies went the distance for all seven innings, scattering eight hits for four runs (two unearned) and allowing just one walk. He also notched seven strikeouts, making it 15 total in the last two games for the lefty.

Vulcans were held to just two hits.

Chasing three runs, UH-Hilo threatened in the final inning by rallying with two outs to load the bases. Reece Kadota was beaned to bring one run across the plate, but that would be all as Biola walked away with the doubleheader sweep and series split.

UH-Hilo moved to 10-12 overall (3-5 PacWest) while Biola moved to a 2-2 conference record (10-7-1 overall).

The Vulcans will host No. 4 Point Loma for a four-game series this weekend, March 8-9, at Francis Wong Stadium. Friday’s games will be Mini Helmet Bowl giveaway night.

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SOFTBALL

After a 19-hour delay, Game 2 of the scheduled four-game series between the Vulcans and Penguins was resumed, providing a reset for the home team as the UH-Hilo Softball team charged back for a 6-3 victory over Dominican before falling 2-1 and 7-5 in Saturday’s doubleheader at the Vulcan Softball Field.

Game 2 was halted in the bottom of the fifth inning due to heavy rain Friday afternoon and continued on Saturday morning under the bright Hilo sun. In the originally scheduled doubleheader for Games 3 and 4, the Vulcans fell by scores of 2-1 and 7-5.

Penguins got on the scoreboard in the third inning after managing to string together three hits for two runs, chasing Vulcans starting pitcher Tehani Seto. After loading the bases by hitting the first batter she faced, Tara Skinner ended the threat with a backward ‘K’ to leave the runners stranded.

UH-Hilo got things going in the sixth inning as Victoria Macias and Dyoni Garcia delivered RBI base hits to bring in the game-tying and go-ahead scores, respectively. Then with two outs and the bases loaded, Maya Lee Saneishi dropped in a blooper to left-center field that skirted past both Dominican outfielders for a bases-clearing double to put the score at 6-2.

Dominican got a run back in the final frame of the game, but Skinner sealed the victory by inducing a ground ball right back to herself to end the game.

In game three, a combined 10 total runners were left stranded on the basepaths before the Penguins managed to bring in the first score of the game in the sixth inning on a wild pitch.

Seemingly down to their final outs in the bottom of the seventh inning, the Vulcans were sprinkled with light rain. Dyoni Garcia drew a lead-off walk to get the game-tying score on base. After moving over to third on a sacrifice bunt and a flyout, Saneishi clutched up again to bring Garcia home with a line drive over the shortstop.

Dominican managed to rally in the top of the ninth with two outs as Olivia Lee strung together the second of consecutive base hits to bring across the game-winning run.

Chloe Sales got the start in the pitching circle, going 5.1 innings with five strikeouts and one run allowed. Megan Yorba was tagged with the loss after just one run given up in 3.2 innings of work, getting to pitch against a handful of her former Holy Names teammates.

In game four, Lexie Tilton batted 2 for 4 with two RBI and a run scored. Tilton got the scoring going with a RBI double in the bottom of the first to bring in Jayda Favela, who reached with a lead-off single. The sophomore left fielder later led off the bottom of the third with a home run to center field followed by a homer by Victoria Macias for back-to-back jacks.

Pitching and defensive execution plagued the Vulcans in the second inning as Dominican got on with a lead-off walk and subsequently tied the score on a wild throw down stemming from a sacrifice bunt. A walk and a hit batsman set up Oliva Lee for an RBI single to give the Penguins a 2-1 lead.

Dominican managed to string together three hits in the third to plate two more runs.

Penguins again added on in the fourth inning with back-to-back walks to set up Caitlyn Perales’ three-run homer for a 7-4 advantage.

Freshman Linsea Strauch made her second appearance of the season, getting her first start in the pitching circle and went 1.1 innings. Tehani Seto threw the final 3.1 innings with no hits, walks or runs given up in putting down all 10 batters faced in order.

UH-Hilo moved to a 8-4 record (3-3 PacWest) while Dominican moved to 8-8 overall (3-5 PacWest).

The Vulcans will have a week off before hitting the road for 17 games in 12 days, taking on Azusa Pacific (March 12-13), Concordia University Irvine (March 15-16) and Biola (March 18-19) before playing in the Tournament of Champions, presented by the City of Turlock (March 22-24).

The next home games will be March 29-30.