HILO, Hawai'i – Hot-hitting seniors Casey Yamauchi and Bradyn Yoshida were joined by freshman Mason Cook's clutch three-RBI performance at the plate as the catcher drove in a game-tying score and the game-winning runs to help the Vulcans slug by Concordia University Irvine, 8-7, Friday afternoon at Francis Wong Stadium to start Pacific West Conference play at 1-0.
The trio accounted for eight of the team's nine total hits and totaled six RBI in game No. 1.
Yamauchi was also off to a 2-for-3 start with a triple and two runs scored in the seven-inning nightcap of Friday's scheduled doubleheader, but play was suspended in the bottom of the sixth inning due to inclement weather. Hawai'i Hilo was leading CUI, 3-1.
The game will be resumed tomorrow, Feb. 25 at 2 p.m., followed by the regularly-scheduled doubleheader set to start at 3 p.m.
GAME 1: CUI 7, HAWAI'I HILO 8
- The Sea Lions jumped on the scoreboard early with four hits for four runs in the opening frame before adding another score in the second inning.
- In the bottom of the second, Hawai'i Hilo took advantage of a fielding error and three walks to load the bases for RBI hits by Bradyn Yoshida and Mason Cook to tie the score up at five.
- The two teams traded runs again in the third inning with a CUI-sacrifice fly followed by a solo homer over the left-field fence by Blake Tweedt.
- Yoshida led off the fourth with a single followed by a Yamauchi-double over the third baseman as Cook clutched up with a hard-hit single to the shortstop to bring Yoshida home for the go-ahead score.
- An inning later, Yoshida added a much-needed insurance run on a high two-out dribbler to third base and safely beat the throw as Tweedt came across the plate to make it 8-6.
- Ty Honda and Christian Wood made relief appearances in the seventh and eighth innings, respectively, as each stranded two CUI runners and ended the innings with a strikeout.
- Christian DeJesus got the start on the rubber and earned his first win after settling into a groove while notching six strikeouts in 5.0 innings of work.
- Jake Liberta earned his fourth save of the season.
GAME 2: CUI 1, HAWAI'I HILO 3 (7 INNINGS — PLAY SUSPENDED IN B6)
- This time, the Vulcans jumped on the scoreboard early as Yamauchi led-off the bottom of the first inning with a triple to deep center field. Cody Min brought him home after inducing a throwing error and later scored on a sacrifice fly by Ryan Cho.
- CUI added a run in the third inning before Min doubled in the fifth to score Yamauchi from first base to make it a 3-1 score.
- Aaron Davies got the start and had gone 6.0 innings with four strikeouts and just one walk given up but with two hit batsmen.
WHAT'S NEXT
Hawai'i Hilo improved to 1-0 in the PacWest (8-1 overall) as Concordia University Irvine moved to a 0-1 record (5-7 overall).
Game 2 will resume play Saturday, Feb. 25 at 2 p.m. at Francis Wong Stadium.
Saturday's originally-scheduled doubleheader for games No. 3 and 4 will follow at 3 p.m.
The Vulcans will have a quick turnaround to begin its two-day four-game series with Biola (0-2 PacWest, 4-10 overall) on Wednesday at home.
IN AND OUT
Two weeks ago, Hawai'i Hilo made its first-ever appearance in the NCAA Division II rankings after coming in at No. 25 in the Week 1 National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Top 25 poll released Feb. 15.
After an idle week with no games, the Vulcans dropped out of the most recent poll released last Wednesday.
