Tribune-Herald
Tribune-Herald
On the bright side, the University of Hawaii at Hilo won’t have to deal with league newcomer Cal Baptist again this season.
The Vulcans got one last look Thursday, and coach Joey Estrella had three simple words to describe the afternoon: “We got blitzed.”
The Lancers jumped on starter Dane Kinoshita for nine runs before the senior could record an out to win 24-2 in Riverside, Calif.
The Vulcans (6-27, 3-21) allowed 28 hits in their worst loss of the year. The worst loss in school history is 29-2 to Hawaii in 1977, Estrella and UHH’s first collegiate season.
“Just too much offensive firepower for us,” Estrella said after UHH’s 22nd loss in 24 games. “We threw five pitchers and nothing we could do went right.
“We threw guys who throw firm, we threw off-speed pitchers. There’s nothing we could do to stop them. We lost to a better team.”
In sweeping the four-game series, first-place Cal Baptist (29-6, 24-4) reached season highs in runs and hits.
Five players finished with three hits, including designated hitter Matt Marnati (3 for 4, five RBIs and two doubles) and Matt Daugherty (3 for 4, solo home run, two RBIs). In all, the Lancers netted nine extra-base hits to improve to 8-0 against UHH this season.
Kinoshita (1-1) went through the order once and allowed seven hits and hit two batters. Casey Bohlmann (2 2/3 innings, Micah Nakasone (1 1/3), Jordan Kumasaka (two) and Seamus Yoneshige (two) followed.
Vulcans third baseman Johnathan James was 2 for 4 with a pair of run-scoring hits, and first baseman Steven Riddle and right fielder Austin Cusack were also both 2 for 4.
James singled in the first to score Riddle and his hit in the ninth plated Larry Valdes.
Devyn Rivera (3-0) was a beneficiary of the onslaught, yielding a run and four hits with three walks and seven strikeouts.
Earlier on the road trip, Grand Canyon beat UHH 23-2, though things should get easier for the Vulcans, who visit cellar-dweller Academy of Art in a three-game series that starts Saturday.
UHH 100 000 001 — 2 8 3
Cal Baptist 914 231 04x — 24 28 2