The pitching was much better but the result wasn’t for UH-Hilo at Dixie State.
Coach Kallen Miyataki said ace Jordan Kurokawa pitched good enough to win Tuesday, but the Vulcans mustered no offense and lost 4-0 in St. George, Utah, as the Red Storm swept a doubleheader for the second consecutive day.
In six innings, Kurokawa (2-4) allowed nine hits and four runs, two earned, with four walks and four strikeouts.
UH-Hilo (4-21, 3-19 Pacific West Conference), which has lost six in a row, wasted a fine pitching performance from David Moody, in the opener, a 4-3 loss in 10 innings.
In eight innings, Moody struck out seven and gave up only three runs on nine hits and a walk.
Edison Sakata hit a two-run double for the Vulcans, but it wasn’t enough to stall the Red Storm (24-6, 12-4).
“Dixie State can hit the ball,” Miyataki said.
That was proven Monday when UH-Hilo gave up 31 runs and was swept by Dixie State.
In the second game, the Red Storm hit 21 for 43 with seven extra-base hits, winning 20-6. Combined with a 11-5 win in the first game, Dixie State scored 27 runs in a seven-inning span.
Run-scoring singles by Edison Sakata and Jacob Grijalva and Byron Freitas’ two-run double staked the Vulcans (4-19, 3-17) to a 5-0 lead, but Dixie State stormed back against Jordan Kumasaka and Deric Valoroso (0-2) by scoring eight times in the sixth.
“They just came out and made some bombs,” Miyataki said of the first game. “That pretty much says it all.
“Kumasaka pitched a real nice game until the (sixth).”
The Red Storm had seven extra-base hits in the first game as well, including three home runs.
Grijalva finished 4 for 5 and Sean Nerhoof was 3 for 5.
In the second game, Morgan West (0-2) was hit hard, allowing eight runs on seven hits while getting only four outs. Reliever Cole Nagamine also allowed eight runs on seven hits.
The Vulcans’ Jaron Manago hit a three-run double.
Softball
Coach Peejay Brun has asked her Vulcans to make adjustments before this season, but that’s especially true for a doubleheader Wednesday at Dixie State.
“I think it’s even more important that we come with a plan this time,” Brun said. “Good teams will make you pay for mistakes.”
That’s what happened Monday when, with a heartbreak and a laugher, the Vulcans tumbled out of first place.
Cal Baptist scored a run in the 10th inning, taking advantage of a tiebreaker rule after the Vulcans failed to, for a 2-1 victory, then the Lancers powered their way to a 12-3 win in Riverside, Calif., and the top spot in the Pacific West Conference.
By rule, UH-Hilo (22-11, 14-6) put Angela Aguinaga on second base to start to 10th, but after moving to third on sacrifice she was stranded by the next two batters. The Lancers (30-6, 13-3) quickly loaded the bases when tough-luck loser Billi Derleth walked one batter another, leading to Jordan Mowatt’s game-winning hit.
Derleth (10-6) wasn’t charged with an earned run in nine-plus innings, allowing seven hits with four walks and two strikeouts.
Aguinaga hit a sacrifice fly in the seventh to tie the game, scoring Kayla Requelman, who pinch ran after Cristina Menjivar was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning.
In the second game, Krista Mann led off the bottom of the first with a home run off Danielle Wilson (10-4) and matters quickly deteriorated from there.
Cal Baptist compiled six hits in the third and three UH-Hilo errors led to an ugly eight-run inning. Hannah Thieroff’s two-run home run in the fifth off Cyanne Fernandez ended the game via the TKO rule.
In four innings, Wilson gave up eight runs, seven earned, on nine hits with two walks and two strikeouts.
Brandi Wilson hit a two-run home run for UH-Hilo.
Tied for first place, the Red Storm (25-7, 13-3) await.
