HILO, Hawai'i – The 23rd-ranked Hawai'i Hilo baseball team split with No. 11 Point Loma Nazarene on the second day of a four-game series as the Vulcans took the series with a 3-1 victory Tuesday afternoon before dropping the final contest, 7-4, in a top 25 showdown between Pacific West Conference teams at Francis Wong Stadium.
Tuesday's victory marked the Vulcans' seventh win over a ranked opponent this season as they improved to 14-3 on the season with a 7-2 record in PacWest play.
Hawai'i Hilo currently sits at No. 2 in the standings behind Azusa Pacific (4-0) with a meeting between the two teams set to start this weekend at Francis Wong Stadium.
GAME 3: POINT LOMA NAZARENE 1, HAWAI'I HILO 3
- The Vulcans plated a pair of runs in the third inning with help of consecutive free bases on a hit-by-pitch and a walk to put two runners on. Mason Cooked cashed in with a hard single up the middle followed by Ryan Cho's grounder through the right side.
- PLNU's Hunter Otjen led off the top of the fourth looking to get runs back and launched a rocket to deep left field, but Chris Varljen tracked back to the fence to make a spectacular grab while getting caught up in one of the sponsored wall banners.
- The Sea Lions eventually got a run back an inning later, this time getting help courtesy a lead-off hit batsmen followed by an RBI double by Derek Lukes.
- Hawai'i Hilo responded as back-to-back walks followed Casey Yamauchi's lead-off double to load the bases. Blake Tweedt brought in a run on a mishandled ground ball up the middle.
- PLNU would get just three base runners on the rest of the way — two via hit-by-pitch — as Eamon Velarde closed out 7.0 innings of work for his third win of the season. Christian Wood notched his unofficial fourth hold as Jake Liberta added a Division II-leading seventh save.
- Sy Stephens recorded seven assists at third base while Bradyn Yoshida had eight putouts in center field.
GAME 4: POINT LOMA NAZARENE 7, HAWAI'I HILO 4 (7 INNINGS)
- After a stellar performance a week ago, starting pitcher Nick Agacki couldn't quite find the strike zone as he was lifted after facing just six batters in the first inning while allowing three runs.
- The Sea Lions totaled a series-high 10 hits and drove in all seven runs led by Jake Entrekin and Otjen's two RBI each.
- Chasing five runs, the Vulcans threatened late in the fifth inning with two runners on and no outs, but they were only able to bring in a pair of runs as they ended the last two innings going down in order.
- Blake Tweedt made six putouts in right field.
SERIES STARS
- Casey Yamauchi — who earlier reached career hit No. 200 — again led the Vulcans at the plate, batting 8 for 13 (.615) with three doubles, three walks, three steals and six runs scored.
- Ryan Cho drove in five runs after batting .455 (5 for 11) with a double and a home run.
- Vance Oshiro totaled eight putouts and 12 assists (.952) with two turned double plays at second base.
- Entrekin led the Sea Lions batting .500 (5 for 10) with a pair of RBI out of the DH spot.
- PLNU center fielder Jack Malone recorded 16 putouts (.941).
WHAT'S NEXT
Hawai'i Hilo improved to 7-2 in the PacWest (14-3 overall) as Point Loma Nazarene moved to a 1-3 conference record (10-6 overall).
The Vulcans will close its home-opening slate with games against Azusa Pacific (11-7 overall, 4-0 PacWest) March 11 and 13 before returning in late April to host HPU.
Hawai'i Hilo will hold its Alumni Game March 18 at 1 p.m. at Francis Wong Stadium.
The Vulcans will travel to O'ahu for three non-conference games with HPU March 25-26 before heading to northern California for games against Holy Names, Academy of Art and Fresno Pacific through mid-April.
RE-ENTERED
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 Week 2 poll before returning to the top 25 in the most recent rankings at the No. 23 spot.
In the latest West Region rankings released Monday, Hawai'i Hilo moved up a spot to No. 3, swapping spots with Cal Poly Pomona. CSU San Bernardino held the top spot with PLNU right behind at the second slot.
