HILO, Hawai'i– The UH Hilo baseball team held off Holy Names late in the game to secure the 7-4 win at Wong Stadium on Thursday night. 

The Vulcans (17-6 and 6-4 PacWest Conference) are riding a five-game winning streak, while the Hawks dropped 12-13 overall and 5-7 in the conference. 

UHH led 2-1 until they distanced themselves from the HNU with a big fourth inning. UH Hilo scored five runs by executing and capitalizing on defensive miscues. 

Three of the first four batters were hit in the fourth by Holy Names' pitcher. The first run of the inning was pushed across when the fourth batter got hit (3-1). Joshua Fuentes then found his pitch, singling to left field and cashing in a run (4-1). The final three runs of the inning were scored by a fielder's choice, a throwing error by HNU's catcher and a UHH sacrifice fly batted by Lucas Sakay (7-1).

The Hawks chipped away at the Vulcans' lead, scoring two runs in the fifth off of two hits and one UHH error (7-3). HNU would have a silent sixth inning and then make a final run for the game in the seventh. 

A walk and two Vulcan errors put two runners in scoring position with one out. John Kea then came in to close out the game, allowing one hit and one run before producing a double-play ball that closed the game (7-4).   

Kyle Alcorn was awarded the win after throwing five innings where he only allowed five hits and three runs to score. Alcorn dismissed four batters at the plate in his five-inning span. Takaski Umino came in relief and threw 1.1 innings where he allowed one hit and one run to score. Kea closed the game, earning his sixth save of the season.

The Vulcans play their next games away in Southern California. Concordia is their first stop on the road on Monday, Mar. 14 at 11am and 2:30pm HST.