A Sunday night shutdown at Wong Stadium gave way to Monday night madness.
UH-Hilo’s baseball team gave up 16 runs, 13 hits and a pair of five-run innings – and won.
RJ Romo hit a home run, a double and scored four runs, and Kila Zuttermeister was 4 for 5 with a two-run double and three RBIs as the Vulcans held off Saint Martin’s 17-16.
The Vuls completed the doubleheader sweep with a much quieter 5-0 victory in the nightcap thanks to pitcher Travis Burleson and home runs by Micah Carter and Phillip Steering, who finished 4 for 4.
The victory in the first game for UHH (3-4) was in stark contrast to Sunday, when Dylan Spain pitched the Vulcans to a nice and clean 3-0 victory.
Fewer than 24 hours later, fireworks broke out in game that lasted three hours, 45 minutes and didn’t end until John Kea earned his second save, striking out a batter to snuff out the Saints’ five-run rally in the ninth.
Saint Martin’s couldn’t mount much against Burleson (1-1), a freshman who delivered his second quality start, pitching a shutout in the seven-inning contest with eight strikeouts and two walks, allowing just three hits.
The Vulcans took the lead on Carter’s solo home run in the second, and Steering hit a two-run blast in the third and an RBI single in the fourth.
Earlier, Deric Valoroso Jr. got the win in the relief by pitching a scoreless seventh.
UHH put up four-spots in the first, third and fourth innings to lead 12-6.
The Vulcans finished with 15 hits, dropping the Saints to 0-2.
Mana Manago was 3 for 6 with two RBIs and a double, Kyle Yamada was 2 for 3 with three RBIs and Edison Sakata scored three runs.
Romo collected three hits.
The teams close the four-game series at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Wong.
• Men’s basketball
Concordia 94, UHH 58: The Eagles avenged a loss in Hilo earlier this season, shooting 52 percent and scoring 55 points in the second half in Irvine, Calif., to send the Vuls to their third consecutive loss.
Randan Berinobis led the Vulcans (6-16, 5-10 Pacific West Conference) with 17 points and eight rebounds. Eric Wattree added 11 points, but the Vulcans shot just 36 percent and had 19 turnovers.
Brian Chambers led the Eagles (16-9, 10-7) with 27 points.
While the Vuls had nine players see action on the court, Concordia saw 11 players score.
The Eagles finished with 16 assists and just four turnovers, scoring 27 points off of UHH’s miscues.
The 94 points allowed were the most by the Vulcans since a 101-72 loss at Chaminade Dec. 16.
• Women’s basketball
Concordia 81, UHH 56: Allie Navarette led the the way with 16 points, six rebounds and three assists, but the Vulcans dropped their seventh game in a row.
UHH (6-12, 4-11) made just 4 of 18 from 3-point range, while the Eagles were 12 of 24.
Concordia (14-9, 11-6) completed the sweep over the Vulcans, also winning 61-51 in December in Hilo, shooting almost 52 percent for its fourth win in a row.
Patience Taylor scored 10 points for UHH, which actually had a slight advantage in points in the paint but was badly outscored from long range.
