HILO, Hawai'i – The Vulcans got on track to winning ways with a doubleheader sweep of Saint Martin's, 8-3 and 4-1, Thursday afternoon in non-conference play at Francis Wong Stadium as part of the Big Island Baseball Bash.
Arthur Soto tallied a four-hit day, going 3 for 5 with two doubles and two RBI in Game 1. Soto's first two-bagger got the scoring going for the Vulcans in the bottom of the third inning after chasing three early Saints runs.
Bradyn Yoshida added another run later in the frame with a two-out bases-loaded RBI bunt single to make it a 3-2 score.
From there, the Vulcans poured it on with nine (of their 13 total) hits through the next five innings. Soto provided the game-winning run with an infield RBI single to score Bryce Tweedt in the bottom of the sixth. In the eighth inning, Mason Cook and Vance Oshiro provided back-to-back jacks on solo homers before Alec Yamauchi brought in the final run with a pinch-hit RBI single to right field.
Game 2 saw Hawai'i Hilo score all four of its runs in the fifth inning after SMU plated a lone run in top of the third aided by a throwing error.
Yamauchi led off with another pinch-hit single before Oshiro drew a four-pitch walk to put two runners on. Two batters later, Chris Varljen pounded a double to left-center field to bring two runs across. Cody Min later scored Varljen with a sacrifice fly before Soto thrashed his seventh double on the young season for the Vulcans' final run of the evening.
Ethan Salschieder (1-0) and Matthew O'Brien (1-0) were the winning pitchers on record while Jake Liberta and Orlando Leon Jr. each notched saves.
UP NEXT
Hawai'i Hilo moved to 3-3 overall (0-0 Pacific West Conference) while Saint Martin's moved to a 1-4 record (0-0 Great Northwest Athletic Conference).
The Vulcans continue the Big Island Baseball Bash taking on Chaminade in a non-conference matchup Friday evening at 5 p.m. Hawai'i Hilo will then play HPU (Feb. 10) and Saint Martin's (Feb. 11) to close the home-opening weekend.
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.
