The University of Hawaii at Hilo baseball team opened its four-game series with nationally ranked Cal Baptist with a bang on Friday.
The University of Hawaii at Hilo baseball team opened its four-game series with nationally ranked Cal Baptist with a bang on Friday.
The Vulcans cranked out 14 hits in the Pacific West Conference opener and defeated the Lancers 11-4 at Wong Stadium. The nightcap ended after the Tribune-Herald’s deadline.
The teams close their series with a doubleheader at 4 p.m. today at Wong. The games are being broadcast on 850 AM.
Keenan Nishioka had three hits and drove in two runs to lead the Vulcans (6-7 overall, 5-4 PacWest). Samuel King, Jordan Murai, Sean Nearhood and Edison Sakata each added two hits. King and Kyle Watase had two RBIs.
The Lancers slipped to 17-6 and 3-6, respectively.
UHH rallied from a 1-0 deficit in the bottom of the third inning, then added two runs in the fourth and five in the eighth to break open the contest.
Michael Fagan led Cal Baptist, from Riverside, Calif., with three hits and an RBI. Teammates Andy Crowley, Stephen Lohr and Mark Sanchez had two hits apiece in the Lancers’ 11-hit attack.
Vulcan starter Jeremy Dela Cruz (2-1) pitched 5 1/3 innings and got the win. He scattered seven hits and allowed two runs while walking only one batter. He was the first of four UHH hurlers to face Cal Baptist in the nine-inning game.
Lancers starter David Herd (3-2) took the loss. He pitched four innings, allowing five hits and five runs. He was one of five Lancers to take the mound against the hosts.
At Wong Stadium
CBU 010 001 200 — 4 11 1
UHH 003 200 51x — 11 14 1