HONOLULU, Oahu--UH Hilo busted open a one-run game late in the contest and got solid pitching early from starter Kyle Alcorn for a 6-4 win in the opening game of a five-contest set against Hawaii Pacific. 

The Vulcans improved to 12-4 in the Pacific West Conference and to 12-7 overall with the win at Les Murakami Stadium. The two teams will play two more twinbills on Saturday and Sunday at 11 am.

Casey Yamauchi had four hits for the Vulcans, who had 11 overall. Mason Campbell had two base knocks and also drove in two runs.

But it was Kyle Alcorn who filled a big void for the Vulcans, whose starting pitching had taken a hit with injuries lately. Alcorn, who hadn't pitched since April 9, worked through a tough first inning where he gave up two runs on three hits and settled in after that for nearly six innings of work. 

After the Vulcans fell behind 2-1, Alcorn didn't give up a hit in innings two through four. His team gave him four runs through the fifth with RBI-hits from Braeden Coloma, Trey Yukumoto, Chris Aubort and Campbell. 

The Sharks would add another run in the seventh to make it a one-run game at 4-3, but in the top of the ninth Yamauchi doubled home a run and Campbell singled home Yamauchi to give some insurance to John Kea. The Vulcan closer had entered the game in the eighth to put a fire, and then worked around a run in the ninth for his fourth save of the year. 

Alcorn moved to 3-2 on the year by pitching 5.2 innings, allowing six hits, two runs, walked three and struck out two. Yamauchi had the third 4-hit game of his career, scoring twice, driving in a run and hitting a double.