The University of Hawaii at Hilo played well enough to win but a 3-run eighth inning by Dixie State College turned the game around as the Red Storm won the Pacific West Conference series opener 9-8 on the Bruce Hurst Field in St. George, Utah.

The Vulcans are 12-11 overall and 3-6 in the PWC while the Red Storm is 16-9 overall and 6-3 in the PWC.

The Vulcans built an 8-6 lead behind a 2-run, 4-hit eighth inning before the Red Storm combined a Vulcan error and walk, and two hits to take the 9-8 lead in their half of the inning.

#Matt Haasenritter# led the Vulcans' 16-hit performance with a 3 for 4 game and an RBI. Six other teammates paired hits – #Ronel Trias, Keoni Manago, Peter Rodgers, Thomas Brown III, Kalehua Moniz# and #Shane Kessel#.

#Kurtis Sherer# (0-1) entered the game in the ninth and picked up the loss with one run on one hit, a strikeout and a walk.

#Clayton Uyechi# had the start and gave up five runs on 10 hits and three walks with four strikeouts before turning the ball to #Tyler Simao# after 5.1 innings. Simao went 1.2 innings in which he gave up three runs on three hits and a walk with two strikeouts.