The UH Hilo baseball team will get back to action this weekend, hosting Hawai`i Pacific in a four-game series. Start time for both doubleheaders is noon on Saturday and Sunday.

Last Time We Checked In: It's been two weeks since the Vulcans opened the 2021 season at the University of Hawai`i-Manoa. The Vulcans fell to the Rainbow Warriors in walk-off fashion in the first game (3-2), and came up short against the Division I 'Bows 6-2, and 13-0. It was the second year in a row that the Vulcans played UH tough for the most part, losing three of the five games that they have played over the last two seasons on either the last play of the game or they had a lead late in the contest.

No Fans, Just Video: Per county protocol during this pandemic, no fans will be allowed at George and Marion Hall Stadium on the UH Hilo campus. Live video stream is available, click on the schedule and the "Watch" link for more details.

Yes, You Read That Correctly--Back on Campus: The Vulcans will play their home games this season on campus at George and Marion Hall Stadium. That field, normally the Vulcans practice field, has a lot of Vulcan and baseball history attached to it. UH Hilo played there in the mid 1980's and beyond as did the Hawai`i Stars of the Hawaii Winter Professional League. That league featured many future pro's, including then-Japanese star and later Seattle Mariner superstar Ichiro Suzuki. George and Marion Hall were longtime Vulcan boosters, and George was involved in the very first stages of building the athletic program.

Small Sample Statistics: The Vulcans are 0-3 after the losses to Hawai`i, but still have some good numbers posted against Division I competition. HPU graduate-transfer Trey Yukumoto is hitting .444 through three games, while Chris Aubort and Casey Yamauchi check in at .300. Aubort had two doubles and a home run at Manoa. Brandyn Lee-Lehano was the most effective starting pitcher, working through seven innings and giving up only one earned run. He walked one, struck out three and has an ERA of 1.29.

Shark Samples: Hawaii Pacific has waited even longer than UH Hilo to get back into a game situation. They have common opponents as they opened 2021 at Manoa as well, falling to the Rainbow Warriors 12-1, 14-3, 10-2 and 10-0. Diego Harris led the Sharks in the series with a .364 average, and 15 different pitchers toed the rubber for head coach Dallas Correa. 

Series History: The Vulcans and Sharks have faced each other more than any other school in each respective programs's history. Hawaii Pacific leads the all-time series 148-104-1, and the teams split four games last year, with the Vulcans winning at home and the Sharks taking two games in Waipahu. 

The Coaches: UH head coach Kal MIyataki is in his eighth season as the head coach, and spent many years prior to that as an associate head coach, assistant coach and athletic administrator. Miyataki also played the for the Vulcans in the mid 1980's. Dallas Correa is in his third year as a head coach at HPU after spending three years as an assistant. The Kauai native played collegiately at the University of Pacific (Calif.).

What's Ahead: The Vulcans and Sharks are scheduled to play the following weekend (April 3-4) on Oahu, but with all things during this pandemic season, the schedule is fluid. Check frequently on hiloathletics.com for the latest in schedule changes.