UH-Hilo’s lineup wasn’t lacking firepower this time – just when it counted. ADVERTISING UH-Hilo’s lineup wasn’t lacking firepower this time – just when it counted. The Vulcans put 16 runners in scoring position Thursday but ended up stranding 15 –
UH-Hilo’s lineup wasn’t lacking firepower this time – just when it counted.
The Vulcans put 16 runners in scoring position Thursday but ended up stranding 15 – at least one in each inning – in a 9-4 loss to Cal Baptist.
Starter Drew Ichikawa gave up three runs in the first inning, but Dylan Sugimoto hit a two-run double in the third as UH-Hilo (8-22, 8-20 PacWest) tied it 6-6 in the fourth before the Lancers (29-15, 20-10) answered right back with two in the bottom half of the fourth and four more in the sixth.
Keaau graduate Jonathan Segovia went 3 for 5, lifting his average to .307. Though the Vulcans came up with eight hits and coaxed 12 walks, they squandered myriad opportunities. In the sixth they loaded the bases with one out but left the bags full, and they loaded them again in the seventh with none out but came away with only one run.
Ichikawa went five innings, allowing eight runs on nine hits, with no walks and two strikeouts.
Phillip Steering drew four of the walks.
Vuls sign four for volleyball
UH-Hilo signed four players with Hawaii ties, including 2015 Waiakea graduate Alison Fuata, who played at Odessa College.
The 5-foot-10 junior outside hitter led the team in kills and was second in digs. As a freshman, she played at Division II Minot State in North Dakota.
She played club ball for Pilipaa, coached by UHH assistant Chris Leonard.
“I am thrilled that local girl Alison will be joined us,” new UHH coach Gene Krieger said. “She will be a great asset to the team and a huge influence on you girls as a role model on the Big Island. She will play outside hitter and back row for us.”
The other signees were:
• Basia Sauni, a 5-7 setter and second team Juco All-American at Scottsdale Community College. The Fighting Artichokes finished fifth at the national junior college tournament. She’s from Hauula and went to Kahuku before her family moved to Arizona.
• ShaRa Niu, an all-state setter at Kahuku. The Red Raiders finished third at the HHSAA tournament. She played for the North Shore Volleyball Club. Niu may start as part of a two-setter lineup.
• Amber Tai, a Kailua High senior and 5-10 right-side hitter, who played club ball for Ka Ulukoa. “She has a high ceiling of improvement ahead of her and should be a regular player as a six-rotation outside.,” Krieger said.
Vuls move to PacWest tennis semis
UHH defeated Concordia 5-2 at the PacWest men’s tennis championships on Thursday at Surprise, Ariz.
The Vulcans face defending NCAA Division II champion Hawaii Pacific in the semifinals. The winner of the PacWest Championships gets an automatic berth into the NCAA Championships.
1. #29 Vaclav Slezak (UHH) def. Till Guttenberger (CUI) 6-1, 6-4.
2. Alex Fillat Perez (UHH) def. Sten Boersma (CUI) 6-1, 6-3.
3. Gregory Zukeran (UHH) vs. Erik Witzlinger (CUI) 4-6, 1-4, unfinished.
4. Stefan Coney (UHH) vs. Daniel Reddmann (CUI) 4-6, 3-3, unfinished.
5. Man Hon Ko (CUI) def. Bruno Figlia (UHH) 6-3, 6-1.
6. Thijs Hagen (CUI) def. Dillon Lam (UHH), 6-3, 6-2.
Doubles competition
1. Vaclav Slezak/Stefan Coney (UHH) def. #23 Till Guttenberger/Daniel Reddmann (CUI) 9-8 (7-5)
2. Bruno Figlia/Alex Fillat Perez (UHH) def. Sten Boersma/Erik Witzlinger (CUI) 8-5
3. Daniel Tada/Gregory Zukeran (UHH) def. Man Hon Ko/Otto Heinz (CUI) 8-4
