WAIPAHU, Hawai'i – The Vulcans started red hot from the batter's box before the Pioneers managed to explode late and to beyond as the Hawai'i Hilo Baseball team dropped a pair of games to Cal State East Bay Saturday in O'ahu Baseball Classic action at the Patsy T. Mink Central O'ahu Regional Park.
Hawai'i Hilo fell to Cal State East Bay by scores of 12-6 and 27-3.
GAME 1: CAL STATE EAST BAY 12 – HAWAI'i HILO 6
- After a lead-off single from Bryce Tweedt, Cody Min powered a two-run homer to left field to quickly put the Vulcans up in the bottom of the first inning. Tweedt later added another run after bringing home Vance Oshiro, who led off the bottom of the second with a double.
- The Vulcans held a 4-2 advantage heading into the fourth inning, but Cal State East Bay moved ahead with two base hits aided by three free bases to batters as a sacrifice fly brought the go-ahead run across the plate.
- Both teams traded runs through the end of seven complete innings with Hawai'i Hilo narrowly behind, 7-6. From there, the Pioneers capitalized on two Vulcans errors before Luke Novitske capped a three-hit game with a two-run homer in the ninth inning to arrive at the final score of 12-6.
- The Vulcans lashed out 10 hits — to the Pioneers' 12 — as Min and Tweedt combined for half of them.
- Cal State East Bay's Brenden Bell batted 3 for 4 with two solo home runs.
- Aaron Davies got the start on the rubber for the Vulcans, going 3.1 innings with three strikeouts and five earned runs allowed.
GAME 2: CAL STATE EAST BAY 27 – HAWAI'i HILO 3
UP NEXT
Hawai'i Hilo moved to 0-3 overall (0-0 Pacific West Conference) while Cal State East Bay moved to a 2-1 record (0-0 California Collegiate Athletic Association).
The Vulcans will conclude play in the O'ahu Baseball Classic Sunday morning against Cal State Los Angeles at 11 a.m. at the Patsy T. Mink Central O'ahu Regional Park Field 4.
Hawai'i Hilo will then head home for its home-opening slate with the Big Island Baseball Bash, Feb. 8-11, at Francis Wong Stadium taking on Saint Martin's, HPU and Chaminade.
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.
