HILO, Hawai'i – The Vulcans concluded the Big Island Baseball Bash with a super rally late Sunday afternoon on a walk-off squeeze bunt in the bottom of the 10th inning for a thrilling 5-4 victory over Saint Martin's.
Hawai'i Hilo finished the weekend slate of games with a 4-1 record. The lone loss was a narrow 6-4 defeat to HPU Saturday evening.
The Sharks went 3-1 with their lone loss to Chaminade, who posted a 1-3 record. Saint Martin's finished 1-4.
FEB. 10: HPU 6 - HAWAI'I HILO 4
- Arthur Soto continued his blazing-hot start to the season, coming off a clutch walk-off single the night before to get the scoring going for the Vulcans Saturday with a solo shot in the bottom of the first inning.
- Cody Min made it just a one-score game, 3-2, in the bottom of the fifth inning after bringing Kein Iwata home on a sacrifice bunt.
- Timely hitting from the Sharks aided by two Vulcans errors extended HPU's lead with three runs in the top of the seventh to make it a 6-2 game.
- Down to the final outs, Hawai'i Hilo began to rally and plated runs on a Bryce Tweedt sacrifice fly and a Blake Tweedt RBI single to right field. But with the tying run at the plate, HPU managed to settle in and end the game with a strikeout.
FEB. 11: SAINT MARTIN'S 4 - HAWAI'I HILO 5 (10 INN.)
- Chasing three runs entering the final frame of regulation, the Vulcans rallied big time to tie the score. Bryce Lindberg brought Vance Oshiro in on a sacrifice fly followed by Bryce Tweedt lining a base hit to right field to move pinch runner Chris Varljen over to third base. Min flied a hit just beyond the shortstop's reach in left-center field for an RBI. Soto once again clutched up with a full-count single up the middle to bring in the game-tying run.
- The Saints almost pulled off a two-out rally in the top of the 10th inning, but Lindberg gunned out a runner at third base from left field to end the threat.
- Blake Tweedt and Oshiro singled as freshman Brandon Wada took his first-pitch offering and laid down a sacrifice squeeze bunt toward first base with Blake Tweedt sliding home safely for the walk-off win.
- Jake Liberta got the win, coming out to pitch the top of the 10th inning.
- Starter Aaron Davies went 4.2 innings with three strikeouts and three defensive assists while allowing just four hits but surrendering three walks and three earned runs.
UP NEXT
Hawai'i Hilo moved to 5-4 overall (0-0 Pacific West Conference) while HPU moved to a 2-4 record (0-0 PacWest) and Saint Martin's moved to 2-6 (0-0 Great Northwest Athletic Conference).
The Vulcans will travel to O'ahu next weekend for a four-game non-conference series with Chaminade at the Patsy T. Mink Central O'ahu Regional Park.
Next home game is the PacWest Conference home opener set for Feb. 25-26 against Concordia University Irvine.
AMONG THE BEST IN THE WEST
In the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association West Region Preseason Poll released Jan. 22, Hawai'i Hilo came in at No. 10 on the list.
Other PacWest Conference teams to make the top 10 were Point Loma (No. 3), Azusa Pacific (No. 4) and Fresno Pacific (No. 7). Cal State San Bernardino was voted at the top.
In the PacWest Conference Preseason Coaches Poll, the Vulcans were voted to finish seventh.
SEASON TICKETS
Single-game and season tickets are now available to be purchased online through Hawai'i Hilo Vulcans Athletics' recently-launched online ticket platform in partnership with AudienceView Campus.
The 2024 slate features 25 home contests at Francis Wong Stadium with a package price of $120 for adults and $60 for seniors (ages 65-plus) and middle/high school students.
Both can be accessed at HiloAthletics.com/tickets.
VIDEO STREAM PACKAGES
The Hawai'i Hilo Baseball team will have 26 home games available to be viewed online in partnership with Out of the Sea Media Arts Inc.
Single-game viewing will be priced at $10 with a season-package offering of $195.
More information is available at HiloAthletics.com/LiveStream.
