When it comes to a UH-Hilo baseball series this season, the first and most pressing question is always the same. ADVERTISING When it comes to a UH-Hilo baseball series this season, the first and most pressing question is always the
When it comes to a UH-Hilo baseball series this season, the first and most pressing question is always the same.
Which game is Jordan Kurokawa starting?
The answer: Wednesday (6 p.m.), and something has to give at Wong Stadium.
The rainout of Saturday’s doubleheader cost Kurokawa a start in front of the home fans, but he’ll get the ball for the opener of a four-game series against Cal Baptist.
That pits the Vulcans’ ace – he of the 0.78 ERA and 25 strikeouts in 23 innings pitched – against the most prolific offense in the PacWest.
The first-place Lancers (17-5, 7-1) lead the league in home runs (21) and runs scored (7.7 per game), sporting a .323 team batting average.
By comparison, the Vulcans (3-9, 2-8) haven’t hit a home run this season and average 3.4 runs per game, though all their games so far have been at Wong, a notoriously stingy ball park on hitters.
California Baptist pitchers also lead the PacWest in team ERA (2.32), but if the series seems like a mismatch, that’s where Kurokawa comes in.
Though his record is only 1-2, the senior right-hander has produced magic in two of his three starts, and he’ll take the ball Wednesday with days’ rest since he fired a program-record 12 strikeouts against Azusa Pacific.
While on the subject of league leaders, Kurokawa tops the PacWest in ERA and opponents batting average (.190).
After Wednesday, Kurokawa likely will only have one more start at home.
The Vuls and Lancers play a 4 p.m. doubleheader Thursday and close the series at 6 p.m. Friday, and UH-Hilo won’t be back at home until a season-ending four-game series against Hawaii Pacific April 30-May 1.
