OAKLAND, Calif.--Drew Ichikawa gave up one run in seven innings of work and Phillip Steering hit his third home run of the series as Hawai`i Hilo picked up a win under the lights at Laney College on Monday night over Academy of Art, 4-1.

With the victory, the Vulcans avoided a sweep by the Urban Knights, who won the first three games of the series. UH Hilo is now 15-23 overall and 11-19 in the Pacific West Conference. Academy of Art is 21-20 on the season and 16-16 in the PacWest.

Ichikawa, making just his fourth start of the season, earned his first win of the year (1-1) with a standout performance. He pitched seven innings, gave up six hits, one earned run, walked three and struck out two. Deric Valoroso pitched a scoreless eighth inning and John Kea danced around two hits without giving up a run in the ninth to pick up his sixth save of 2018.

The Vulcans scored two runs in the first inning to give Ichikawa some cushion. Singles by Kyle Yamada, Steering, Jaryn Kanbara and RJ Romo plated two runs, and Steering then launched his tenth blast of the year in the second inning to give the junior righthander more room to work with. 

Ichikawa didn't allow a runner past second base and benefited from three double plays--including one in the eighth when Valaroso came on in relief. 

UHH added one more run in the ninth thanks to a base hit by Edwin Stanberry, sacrifice bunts by Mano Manago and Edison Sakata, and a RBI-single by Kila Zuttermeister.

Steering went 3-for-4 in the game, scored twice, hit a double, home run and had an RBI. The senior first baseman went 10-for-16 in the series with three home runs, two doubles and six RBI.

Yamada and Romo had two hits each tonight for the Vulcans, who will now get ready to take on Holy Names in a Thursday-Saturday four-game slate.