Kobie Russell hit his first career grand slam to highlight the UH-Hilo baseball team’s entertaining 13-2 season-opening victory over San Diego Christian on Friday night.
The junior left-handed hitting first baseman crushed a 1-2 fastball off left-hander Anthony Chiaramonte for a 12-1 cushion in the sixth inning before 343 fans at Wong Stadium.
On Saturday, the Vulcans defeated the Hawks 4-2 in the first game of a doubleheader, completing the sweep on Casey Yamauchi’s walk-off RBI single in the nightcap, which UHH won 6-5. UHH (3-0) and SDC (0-3) conclude the five-game series with a doubleheader at noon Sunday at Wong Stadium.
Five UHH pitchers combined on a seven-hitter in te first game. Christian DeJesus pitched 3 2/3 innings of two-run ball, Jamieson Hirayama, who got the win, recorded an out, Jacob Liberta and Alden Norquist each fired two scoreless innings, and closer John Kea got the save with a perfect ninth.
Yamauchi batted 3 for 5 with an RBI, Brett Komatsu went 3 for 4 with an RBI, and Russell was 1 for 2 with an RBI off losing pitcher Jack Schlotman, who went seven innings and gave up four runs. Jacob Kokeny pitched one inning.
Ryan Lystlund batted 4 for 4 to lead the Hawks, who had seven hits.
On Friday, Russell put a jolt of electricity into the crowd when he yanked a fastball over the right field fence.
“I was happy to put the ball in play,” Russell said. “It was a fastball in, and I reacted to it. Never hit one. This was my first one ever. I saw it go over the fence, and the emotions came, my first hit of the year.”
Russell, the No. 5 hitter, batted 1 for 4 with four RBIs. Yamauchi went 2 for 4, including two doubles, with five RBIs, Jaryn Kanbara was 3 for 5, including two doubles, with an RBI, Eric Peterson had two hits, and No. 9 hitter Komatsu was 2 for 4 with three runs for the Vulcans.
UHH had most of SDC’s pitchers timed. The Vulcans drew five walks and struck out just twice. They often squared up and hit the ball hard.
“I think he’s due, UHH coach Kallen Miyataki said of Russell. “That’s the best thing for him. It gives him a lot of confidence. He’s been working really hard so hopefuly good things happen after this.”
Of course, Miyataki put the blowout into perspective, knowing full well how fates can quickly change in baseball.
“We’ll see how it goes tomorrow. I told them, ‘We enjoy it but don’t celebrate too much. We got another day, and let’s go back to the drawing board, let’s go 0-0 and see what we do.’ ”
The Vulcans finished with 13 hits, including five for extra bases, and five pitchers held the Hawks to just six hits. Even better, UHH starter Brandon Holtz pitched 2 1/3 innings, allowed a run on two hits, and the bullpen didn’t issue any walks.
Hirayama recorded two outs, Ty Honda pitched one clean inning, and winning pitcher left-hander Aaron Davies went 3 1/3 innings, allowed a run and whiffed five, and Cody Hirata fired 1 2/3 scoreless innings with two strikeouts.
The three Waiakea graduates, Hirayama, Honda, and Hirata, pitched 3 1/3 combined innings and did a solid job. They all worked quickly, threw strikes and didn’t allow any walks or runs.
Miyataki gave the season-opening start to Holtz, a Division I transfer from North Dakota State, who was the player of the year at his North Dakota High School with a 4-1 record and 1.50 ERA and hit .409 with five homers and 24 RBIs in 2018.
“We’re going to need him. You saw the velo. It’s up there,” Miyataki said. “I told him, ‘I’m going to leave you out there until your pitch count.’ Same thing with Davies. I asked Cody, ‘You want to finish it?’ He said, ‘Yeah.’ Local boy, go get it.”
Johnny Radomskiy, and Alec Arnone had two hits each to lead the Hawks, who finished 4-39 in the NAIA last season.
SDC starter Bryce Barajas went three innings, gave up two runs and took the loss. Six others followed and everyone allowed either a hit, walk or run.
UHH’s two first-time starters, graduate student and Hawaii Pacific transfer Joe Gallagher, and senior center fielder Komatsu, had productive days. Gallagher batted 0 for 3 with an RBI, two walks and no strikeouts. Komatsu had a sharp single and a bunt single.
