University of Hawaii at Hilo baseball coach Kallen Miyataki was quick and to the point. Seven words neatly summed up the Vulcans’ doubleheader against Hawaii Pacific in Waipahu, Oahu.
University of Hawaii at Hilo baseball coach Kallen Miyataki was quick and to the point. Seven words neatly summed up the Vulcans’ doubleheader against Hawaii Pacific in Waipahu, Oahu.
“They just hit the ball really well,” Miyataki said after the Sea Warriors knocked around UH-Hilo pitching for a combined 35 hits in winning 9-1 and 16-5 on Friday night.
UH-Hilo (10-23, 8-19 Pacific West Conference) managed 14 hits in the nightcap. But the Sea Warriors (21-13, 15-11) roughed up Jordan Kurokawa and jumped out to a 9-0 lead in the fourth inning, getting a two-run triple from Konawaena graduate Ryan Torres-Torioka, who finished 2 for 3 with three RBIs. Derek Nakasato was 3 for 5 with five RBIs, including a two-run triple, to cap his huge day.
Jonathan James and Harrison Guiol each had three hits for the Vulcans, and Hilo graduate Ryan Fukunaga hit a two-run single in the ninth against Dorian Rivera, another former Wildcat.
“There were some bright spots,” Miyataki said after the Vulcans’ 11th straight loss. “We hit the ball some, but not like them.”
Kurokawa (2-5) lasted just two innings, and was roughed up for seven hits and five runs with two walks and two strikeouts.
Bryson Gauthe (4-1) pitched seven innings and didn’t allow an earned run before giving way to Rivera, who allowed four hits and three runs with two walks and three strikeouts.
Nakasato was also a pain in the first game, finishing 3 for 5 with three RBIs as UH-Hilo starter Jeremy Dela Cruz (3-5) failed to get out of the second inning and gave up five hits and three runs.
Jordan Murai compiled two hits for UH-Hilo and Hilo graduate Keenan Nishioka contributed an RBI single against Joshua Garcia, who was otherwise in control. In seven innings, Garcia (3-1) allowed only six hits with a walk and six strikeouts.
The teams play another doubleheader at noon Saturday.
“We just have to make pitches,” Miyataki said.
First game
UH-Hilo 000 001 000 — 1 8 1
HPU 120 200 13 x —9 16 1
Second game
UH-Hilo 000 011 003 — 5 14 2
HPU 032 412 40x —16 19 3