Tribune-Herald
Tribune-Herald
The University of Hawaii at Hilo baseball team staged a last-inning rally, but came up a run short, losing for the 10th consecutive time in the first game of a doubleheader against Cal Baptist, the conference’s best team.
Will Thayer struck out with the winning run on base in UHH’s 5-4 loss in the first Pacific West Conference game Tuesday before 71 fans at Wong Stadium.
Then the Vulcans lost to Cal Baptist in the nightcap, 4-2, extending their losing streak to 11 straight games, more than halfway to UHH’s school record of 20 consecutive setbacks.
The Vulcans (4-16, 1-10 PacWest) and Lancers (20-4, 17-2) play again at 4 p.m. today.
Keenan Kaluau led off the seventh and reached on an error. Two outs later, Steven Riddle doubled, scoring Kaluau. Joshua Wong singled, advancing Riddle to third. Then Tyson Goo singled to right field, cutting the score to 5-4. Relief pitcher Jesse Arreola struck out Thayer to end the game.
Patrick Smith pitched 6 2/3 innings for the win. He allowed four runs on five hits and one walk, and struck out seven.
Seamus Yoneshige went 3 2/3 innings and took the loss. He gave up five runs on six hits and three walks, and struck out two. Micah Nakasone fired 3 1/3 scoreless innings. He allowed two hits and two walks, and whiffed one.
Riddle batted 2 for 4 with an RBI to lead UHH.
Matt Johnson went 2 for 4 with two RBIs to lead Cal Baptist.
In the second game, Erik Wallace and Cody Wetherbee combined on a five hitter. Wallace went 5 1/3 innings for the win, and Wetherbee tossed 1 2/3 innings for the save.
Gaven Kinoshita pitched 5 2/3 inning in the loss. He allowed three runs on five hits and four walks. Jordan Kumasaka went 1 1/3 innings and allowed a run.
Kaluau batted 2 for 3 to lead UHH.