WAIPAHU, Hawai'i – The Hawai'i Hilo baseball team salvaged a season-ending weekend-series sweep by playing spoiler on Senior Day with a 5-4 victory over HPU in non-conference action Sunday afternoon at the Patsy T. Mink Central O'ahu Regional Park.
The Vulcans had swept the Sharks in a four-game series a weekend ago and were one game away from HPU returning the favor with a home sweep of its own.
Ryan Cho struck first with a solo home run in the opening frame of the game.
HPU tied the game in the third inning but Hawai'i Hilo strung together three base hits to score three runs in the sixth inning for a 4-1 lead. For much-needed added insurance, JP Tilley and Casey Yamauchi led off the top of the ninth with back-to-back doubles to plate another run.
Freshman Quinn Stewart made his sixth appearance on the mound for his second start of the season, going 5.0 solid innings with zero earned runs allowed and just two hits given up while notching three strikeouts, one of which ended the bottom of the first with two runners left stranded.
Christian Wood came in to close out the final inning, and despite giving up a solo homer to make it a one-run game, the junior ended the game on strike-three swinging for his fourth save of the season.
WHAT'S NEXT
Hawai'i Hilo moved to 25-19 overall (13-16 Pacific West Conference) as the Vulcans season came to a close.
HPU moved to a 20-27 record (14-17 conference).
The four-team PacWest Championships postseason tournament will be held May 10–12 in Fresno, California at FPU featuring Point Loma Nazarene, Azusa Pacific, Fresno Pacific and Holy Names.
Mahalo for your support for Hawai'i Hilo baseball this season.
