(photo of John Bicos by Courtney Metzger)

HILO, Hawai`i--John Bicos doubled and homered and his left-handed pitching teammate Kyle Alcorn pitched six innings without giving up an earned run to lead UH Hilo to an 8-1 win over Hawaii Pacific on Saturday afternoon at George and Marion Hall Stadium.

The second game of the doubleheader was suspended in the second inning after heavy rains. Hawaii Pacific was leading 6-1, and the game will be continued next Friday when the two teams meet on Oahu at Les Murakami Stadium (campus of University of Hawaii). The Vulcans and Sharks will play a six-game series on the turf, including the completion of this game.

With the single win today, the Vulcans moved to .500 on the year at 4-4, and to 4-1 in the Pacific West Conference. Hawaii Pacific is now 1-8 overall and 1-4 in the PacWest.

Alcorn picked up his second win of the season on the mound (2-1). He went six innings, allowed five hits, walked just one batter and fanned six Sharks. He gave up an unearned run in the six inning, but struck out the final batter he faced before departing at the end of the inning. 

Brandyn Lee-Lehano and Cody Hirata were even more effective out of the bullpen. Neither gave up a hit, with Lee-Lehano striking out one in two innings, and Hirata sitting down all three HPU batters that he faced.

The trio had plenty of offensive help. Bicos doubled during a three-run sixth inning and then homered in the seventh when UHH scored four times. Mason Campbell also had two hits, including a two-run double in the sixth. Lawson Faria was the third Vulcan to get a pair of hits. 

Diego Harris had two of the five Shark hits and also stole a pair of bases. 

The first game was played in moderate conditions, with just a couple of light rain showers appearing. Play was never delayed. 

But during the second contest, the rain was harder and steadier. The Sharks scored six runs in the top of the first on four hits, but also took advantage of two balks, three wild pitches and a walk against UHH starter Jonathan Buhl. UHH got a run back in the bottom of the second after three straight walks and a passed ball to make it 6-1, 

The game will resume next week in the bottom of the second with runners on first and third and no one out for the Vulcans.

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