HILO, Hawai`i--The Holy Names Hawks did unto Hawai`i Hilo as had been done unto them, rallying for a win and a sweep of a doubleheader on Saturday at Wong Stadium, 9-5 and 8-4.

The Hawks leave the Big Island with a 5-15 record in the Pacific West Conference and they are 8-25 overall. The Vulcans are now 5-13 in the PWC and 5-15 on the year.

Hawai`i Hilo had rallied to win single games on Thursday and Friday night, setting the stage for a win of the series on Saturday. But the Hawks won the first game of the doubleheader in decisive fashion, 9-5, and then rallied with six runs in the top of the seventh to overcome a 4-2 deficit in the nightcap.

The first game was all Hawks as the visitors from Oakland pounded out 15 hits, including four by Chris Gnos and three by Ryan Fujinaga. They put a pair of runs on the board in the first and third innings and never trailed after that, building a 9-3 lead before the Vulcans got two runs back in the ninth. HNU placed those 15 hits against four different UHH pitchers, and also took advantage of six walks and two hit batters.

Hawai`i Hilo had 10 hits of their own including two each from the top three hitters in their order--Dylan Sugimoto, Kyle Yamada and Phillip Steering. But Hawk starting pitcher Ricardo Torres spread the damage out, scattering nine of those hits in seven innings of work to get the win, his first of the season (1-5).

The Vulcans worked quickly in the second game to make amends. Three hits in the first inning, including a double by Austin Forney and a two-run single by Jacob Grijalva helped put four runs on the board. That 4-0 lead held until the the third inning, with UHH starter Cole Nakachi pitching effectively. Making his first start of the year, the sophomore gave up just one hit through 2.2 innings before two hit batters and two singles brought in two runs to make it 4-2.

Nakachi settled in again until the fifth inning, when he was lifted just shy of a full five innings of work, allowing two earned runs and just three hits. Deric Valoroso took the ball from there finishing a scoreless fifth and sixth, heading into the seventh, with the Vulcans still leading, 4-2.

Then came the fateful seventh.

Life was sustained for Holy Names when the lead runner reached base courtesy of an error. a single by Evan Maecker followed, and a sacrifice bunt moved the runners to second and third. The floodgates then burst open, as Gnos tied the game with a two-run single, and Nick Snyder followed with a one-bagger that drove in a run. 

There was much more to come, six total hits in the inning and six runs. Six of HNU's ten hits in the game came in the seventh and final inning. UHH tried to rally back in the bottom half when Jonathan Segovia doubled, but he was left stranded and the Hawks stormed the field to celebrate. 

Sugimoto had two hits in the game, as did Grijalva and Segovia. Grijalva also had two RBI. Aiden McIntyre went the distance on the mound for the Hawks to get the win (3-4). Gnos had six hits on the day for HNU and drove in six runs.

The Vulcans are home again this coming weekend, hosting Fresno Pacific in a four-game series on Saturday (April 8) and Monday. Both doubleheaders will start at 4 p.m.