Despite another slam from Kobie Russell, UHH baseball denied five-game sweep

KELSEY WALLING/Tribune-Herald UH-Hilo infielder Tui Ickes rounds third and scores a run Saturday against San Diego Christian at Wong Stadium. The Vuls took four of five from the Hawks, losing the season-opening series finale 9-8.
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The UH-Hilo baseball team took four of five games against San Diego Christian College on Sunday, winning the first game 1 4-0 and losing the second game 9-8 at Wong Stadium.

In Game 1, four UHH pitchers combined on a 4-0 three-hitter. Kyle Alcorn and Conor Meehan, who earned the win each fired three innings, Cody Hirata pitched an inning, and Takashi Umino went the final two innings for the Vulcans (4-1).

Alcorn started and allowed a hit, two walks and struck out three. Meehan gave up a hit, walked one and struck out one. Hirata surrendered a hit, and Umino walked one and struck out two.

Kobie Russell belted solo homer in the sixth inning for his second of the season. He batted 1 for 4 with an RBI. Joe Gallagher and Brett Komatsu each hand an RBI.

In the first, Casey Yamauchi reached on an error, advanced to second on a wild pitch, stole third and scored on a wild pitch for 1-0 lead.

Eric Peterson walked and eventually scored on Joe Gallagher’s RBI groundout for a 2-0 lead.

Ryan Cho doubled to lead off the fourth and scored when Komatsu reached on an infield error for a 3-0 lead.

In Game 2, the Vulcans trailed 7-1 heading into the sixth inning when they scored a run in the sixth and six in the seventh to tie it 8-8.

UHH committed five errors, two by catcher Teppei Fukuda, and one apiece by Russell, Bradyn Yoshida, and Komatsu that led to three unearned runs.

Eamon Velarde started and allowed four runs (two unearned) in 2 1/3 innings. Jarrod Kaneshiro recorded an out and gave up an unearned run. Aaron Wehrman got an out. Zach de Hondol pitched an inning and gave up two runs. Devin Meyer fired a scoreless inning. Ty Honda and John Kea, who took the loss, each pitched two innings of one-run relief.

In the seventh, Russell hit his second grand slam of the season and his career to tie the score 8-8. He has three homers in five games.

With two outs in the ninth inning, Russell reached on a Hawk error off winning pitcher Josh Ross, and Gallagher struck out to end the game.

Aaron Hoch batted 3 for 5 with four RBIs to lead the Hawks (2-11).

On Saturday, Yamauchi produced an RBI single in the seventh and final inning to lift the Vulcans over the Hawks 4-3.

Yamauchi batted 3 for 4 while Gallagher and Cho had two hits each.

Kea recorded one out in the seventh for the win. The senior right-hander got a flyout with runners on first and second.

UHH next hosts a six-game series against Minnesota Crookston starting at 6 p.m. Thursday at Wong Stadium.