College baseball: Vulcan starters hit hard in sweep

One day it’s lack of hitting, the next it’s poor pitching. That’s the anatomy of a 14-game losing streak.

The pitching was pristine a day earlier, but UH-Hilo’s lineup couldn’t come around.

The bats were better Saturday, but not nearly good enough after the Vulcans’ starters combined to get just eight outs in 19-7 and 8-5 losses to Hawaii Pacific in Honolulu.

In the opener, Eric Vega failed to follow in the footsteps of Jordan Kumasaka and Jordan Kurokawa, recording only one out and allowing eight of the nine runs the Sharks scored in the top of the first.

Sam Kim provided the highlight of the day for UH-Hilo (6-29) by combing for five hits and five RBIs. The senior third baseman compiled three extra-base hits in the opener, including a two-run home run that came long after the Vulcans had fallen behind 16-1. Kim leads the team in average (.342), home runs (three) and RBIs (16).

Hawaii Pacific (17-18) also jumped on Game 2 starter Devin Lee, who allowed seven runs – six earned in 2 1/3. Konawaena graduate Ryan Torres-Torioka chased Lee with a RBI triple and came around to score on a wild pitch.

Byron Freitas had an RBI triple in the third for UH-Hilo, which rallied for four runs in the seventh against Konawaena graduate Dorian Riviera. Hilo graduate Keenan Nishioka led off with a walk and scored on Edison Sakata’s single. Sakata scored on Michael Jenkerson’s hit, and Kim hit brought in two more runs with a hit. After Rivera plunked Phillip Steering to load the bases, Casey Duenas came on to retire Sean Nearhoof, who was pinch-hitting for Nishioka, on a liner to third.

Nishioka had two hits in the opener. Vega fell to 1-5 and his ERA rose to 8.22.

The series finishes with another nonconference doubleheader Sunday.

Softball

UH-Hilo’s doubleheader at Hawaii Pacific was postponed until 11 a.m. Sunday.