The UH-Hilo baseball team split the second day of a four-game series with Point Loma Nazarene on Tuesday afternoon at Francis Wong Stadium — winning game one 3-1 and dropping the final contest 7-4, but taking the series 3-1.
In game one, the Vulcans plated a pair of runs in the third inning with the help of consecutive free bases on a hit-by-pitch and a walk to put two runners on. Mason Cooked cashed in with a hard single up the middle, followed by Ryan Cho’s grounder through the right side.
PLNU’s Hunter Otjen led off the top of the fourth looking to get runs back and launched a rocket to deep left field, but Chris Varljen tracked the ball back to the fence to make a spectacular grab while getting caught up in one of the sponsored wall banners.
An inning later, the Sea Lions got a run back — this time getting help courtesy of a lead-off hit batsmen followed by an RBI double by Derek Lukes.
UH-Hilo responded as back-to-back walks followed Casey Yamauchi’s lead-off double to load the bases. Blake Tweedt brought in a run on a mishandled ground ball up the middle.
PLNU would get just three base runners on the rest of the way — two via hit-by-pitch — as Eamon Velarde closed out 7.0 innings of work for his third win of the season. Christian Wood notched his unofficial fourth hold as Jake Liberta added a Division II-leading seventh save.
Sy Stephens recorded seven assists at third base while Bradyn Yoshida had eight putouts in center field.
Tuesday’s victory marked the Vulcans’ seventh win over a ranked opponent this season as they improved to 14-3 on the season with a 7-2 record in Pacific West Conference play.
Despite a noteworthy performance last week, starting pitcher Nick Agacki couldn’t quite find the strike zone during Tuesday’s second game as he was lifted after facing just six batters in the first inning while allowing three runs.
The Sea Lions totaled a series-high 10 hits and drove in all seven runs led by Jake Entrekin and Otjen’s two RBI each.
Chasing five runs, the Vulcans threatened late in the fifth inning with two runners on and no outs — but they were only able to bring in a pair of runs as they ended the last two innings going down in order.
Tweedt made six putouts in right field.
UH-Hilo currently sits at No. 2 in the PacWest standings behind Azusa Pacific (4-0), with a meeting between the two teams set to start this weekend at Francis Wong Stadium.
Following the victory against PLNU, the Vulcans jumped to No. 16 in the Division II rankings.
UH-Hilo improved to 7-2 in conference play (14-3 overall) as Point Loma Nazarene moved to a 1-3 conference record (10-6 overall).
The Vulcans will close their home-opening slate with games against Azusa Pacific (11-7 overall, 4-0 PacWest) Friday and 13 before returning in late April to host Hawaii Pacific University.
UH-Hilo will hold its Alumni Game at 1 p.m. Saturday, March 18, at Francis Wong Stadium.
The Vulcans will travel to Oahu for three nonconference games with HPU March 25-26 before heading to northern California for games against Holy Names, Academy of Art and Fresno Pacific through mid-April.
