College baseball: Vulcans end slide; UH swept

While Sam Kim’s hot bat was a constant, University of Hawaii at Hilo starting pitching was a mixed bag during six games at Hawaii Pacific.

Count Jeremy Dela Cruz among the good.

Dela Cruz worked eight strong innings and Kim’s run-scoring single in the top of the ninth Sunday in Honolulu lifted the Vulcans to a 5-4 victory that ended a 14-game losing streak.

UH-Hilo (7-30) used five pitchers in dropping the second game 14-2.

Kim, a senior third basemen, had a hit in each of the final five games in the series, lifting his average to a team-leading .347. None of the hits were bigger than his single to left Sunday that scored Michael Jenkerson (2 for 4) in the ninth.

Deric Valoroso Jr. struck out the side in the bottom of ninth to get his first save after Dela Cruz (2-1) scattered eight hits and struck out three without walking a batter. Three of the four runs the senior right-hander allowed were earned.

Keaau graduate Jonathan Segovia was 2 for 4 with an RBI triple for UH-Hilo, while Konawaena graduate Ryan Torres-Torioka hit a two-run single for the Sharks (18-19).

Kim batted 2 for 4 in the first game, then added a RBI single in the second game. Vulcans reliever Mike Slifer (1-6) made a spot start and allowed six hits and four runs in three inning.

Cal Poly 12, Hawaii 5: Despite a 3-for-3 day by Hilo graduate Chayce Ka’aua, the Rainbow Warriors were swept in San Luis Obispo, Calif.

UH starter Jarrett Arakawa lasted just 2 2/3 innings as the Mustangs scored four runs in both the third and fourth innings.

Ka’aua singled in a run in the second and he reached on a hit in the sixth and eventually came around to score. The freshman catcher lifted his average to .278.

Konawaena graduate JJ Kitoaka was 0 for 4 for the Rainbow Warriors (12-23, 3-6 Big West).