Hilo, Hawaii – Christian Stephenson partially opened the door but closed it shut on one pitch as the University of Hawaii at Hilo beat Hawaii Pacific University 3-2 in the first game of a doubleheader with Hawaii Pacific University on the UHH baseball field.

The Sea Warriors (31-18-1) won the second game 5-4 in eight innings.

With the Vulcans (15-27) holding a 2-0 lead, the Sea Warriors posted a run in the sixth before Stephenson took the mound with two outs and two runners on base. Stephenson knocked down that threat with a strikeout.

T.J. Brown picked up his second hit and RBI of the game in the Vulcans' half to regain the two-run lead.

Stephenson started the final inning on role with a ground out and a strikeout. As if to add drama to his performance, the junior right-hander walked the next batter before giving up an RBI double. He then tossed a wild pitch and walked a batter to put runners at the corner. Stephenson finally brought the game to an end with grounder hit back to the mound and easily tossed to first base for the game.

[[i:392:n:l]]Kekoa Lee (2-4) picked up the win with a three-hit, two-walk and two-strikeout performance over 5.2 innings. Stephenson picked up the save.

Shane Kessel also had two hits for the Vulcans.

The Vulcans got off to a quick start in game two with two runs in the first inning. Ronel Trias' walk was followed by Michael Higa's triple. Higa later scored on A.J. Satele's infield grounder.

The game shifted into the Sea Warriors favor as they took a 4-2 lead heading into the Vulcans' final at bat.

With the Sea Warriors already committing three errors, more opportunities presented themselves in the seventh. Dayne Ogawa's grounder got past the Sea Warriors pitcher and first baseman but was snagged by the second baseman. Ogawa already reached the bag when the throw to first bounced off first base and gave Ogawa the opportunity take second. Ogawa then moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on Peter Rodgers' fly out to center.

Matt Haasenritter followed with a single and was replaced by pinch-runner Colin Zimmerman. On Kessel's double, Zimmerman moved to third then scored on Brown's sacrifice fly.

The Sea Warriors scored the final run on a wild pitch.

Higa, Haasenritter and Kessel paired hits for the Vulcans.