OAKLAND, Calif. — The University of Hawaii at Hilo produced its largest scoring output of the season to snap a four-game skid, winning the opening contest of a four-game series with Academy of Art 17-7 on Tuesday evening in Pacific West Conference action at Laney College.
UH-Hilo also had its third-largest output of hits with 16 total as they drove in a season-high 14 RBI with runs scored in five of the game’s nine innings.
Alec Yamauchi led with four RBIs and got the scoring started in the opening frame with a three-run homer to left field.
Ryan Cho and Trent Jackson followed with three RBIs apiece as the latter finished the night hitting four-for-six with two doubles and two runs scored out of the designated hitter spot. Jackson also had a de facto little league home run in the third inning after slamming a double to right field and coming all the way around to score on an overthrown relay.
The Vulcans jumped out to a 13-run lead through the top of the fifth inning before Academy of Art put up seven-unanswered runs, but UH-Hilo added three more in the top of the ninth to put the game away.
Matthew O’Brien got the start on the hill and went two complete innings before making way for James Yamasaki, who was designated the winning pitcher on record.
Eight total pitchers made appearances on the mound for UH-Hilo, including sixth-year senior Kobie Russell who made both his season and first-ever pitching debut with two-thirds of an inning of work.
UH-Hilo improved to 9-9 in PacWest play (18-11 overall) as Academy of Art moved to a 5-12 record (12-19 overall).
The Vulcans will continue their four-game series against the Urban Knights. The two teams will then play a doubleheader today with two seven-inning contests.
UH-Hilo will conclude its road trip with Fresno Pacific April 10–11 before returning to Francis Wong Stadium to host HPU for the final home games April 21–23.
The four-team PacWest Championships postseason tournament will be held May 10–12 in Fresno, California at FPU.
The previously 22nd-ranked Vulcans dropped out of the latest National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association NCAA Division II poll released last Wednesday. The new Week 8 poll will be released today.
UH-Hilo fell three spots to a tie at the No. 7 spot in the latest West Region rankings released this past Monday.
The Vulcans shared the No. 7 ranking with Cal State Dominguez Hills as fellow PacWest Conference schools Point Loma Nazarene and Azusa Pacific sit above at No. 3 and No. 4, respectively. Cal State San Bernardino holds the No. 1 spot.