By BILL O’REAR
By BILL O’REAR
Tribune-Herald sports editor
Joshua Wong doubled twice and drove in three runs to spark the University of Hawaii at Hilo to a 6-3 win over Dixie State College in the first game of a doubleheader on Tuesday.
The Pacific West Conference baseball twinbill was played at Wong Stadium. In Game 2, the Red Storm defeated the Vulcans 4-2 to split the four-game series in Hilo.
Wong, a junior second baseman out of Kamehameha Schools on Oahu, hit a run-scoring double in the bottom of the first inning when the Vulcans (12-33 overall, 9-26 PacWest) plated three runs, then ripped a two-run double in the seventh inning to make it 6-2 over the Red Storm (25-13, 21-11).
Teammates Jonathan James and Travis Stancil each went 3 for 4 to lead UHH’s 10-hit attack. Both players had RBIs while Vulcan designated hitter Steven Riddle had a single and an RBI.
Jayden Darrington and Cedric Johnson each had three hits to lead the Red Storm. Darrington, a DH, also drove in two runs.
UHH freshman Jeremy Dela Cruz (3-0) started and pitched six innings to record the win. He gave up two runs — one earned — while striking out one and walking four. Relievers Casey Bohlmann (1 1/3 innings) and Patrick Fletcher (2/3 inning) also took the mount with Fletcher picking up a save.
Dixie State starter Mike Dedrick (4-3) took the loss. He went six innings, allowing four runs on seven hits, striking out three and walking one. Austin Christiansen followed Dedrick and hurled 1inning, gibing up two hits and two runs. Jason Holmes pitched the final scoreless inning.
The Red Storm outhit UHH 12-10 in the opener, but it was the host’s big first inning that set the game’s tone and had the visitors battling from behind the rest of the way. Dixie State straned 13 runners on the bases while the Vulcans left seven.
In Game 2, Dixie State scored three runs in the second inning and held on to beat UHH 4-2.
The Red Storm managed only four hits off the Vulcan pitchers — starter Dane Kinoshita (2 innings) and relievers Seamus Yoneshige (4 2/3 innings) and Fletcher (1/3 inning) — but they were enough to fuel the win.
Sam Friend started for Dixie State and went 4 2/3 innings. He allowed five hits and two runs before reliever Daniel Zapata came on to finish. Zapata (3-0) got the win. Kinoshita (1-4) gave up three hits and three runs during his time on the mound. He took the loss.
Jordan Hanley and Tyler Siesk each had a hit and an RBI to lead the Red Storm. Teammate Nate Littlewood also had an RBI.
Wong was the only Vulcan to pair hits, going 2 for 3 with an RBI. Keenan Kaluau added a hit and an RBI as the hosts outhit Dixie State 6-4 in the seven-inning contest.
On Monday, UHH won the opener 5-1 before the Red Storm rallied to take the nightcap 4-3 in nine innings.
The Vulcans next host Academy of Art University in a season-ending four-game series on April 30-May 1 at Wong Stadium. The Vulcans and Urban Knights will play twinbills each day, starting at 4 p.m.
At Wong Stadium
DSC 001 010 001 — 3 12 2
UHH 300 001 20x — 6 10 2
DSC 030 000 1 — 4 4 1
UHH 110 000 0 — 2 6 1