HILO, Hawai'i – Hawai'i Hilo Baseball sparked up some fireworks to bookend its season-finale series for a doubleheader sweep of Menlo, 13-11 and 9-8 (7 innings), Saturday afternoon in Pacific West Conference play at James "Jimmy" Correa Ballfield at Francis Wong Stadium.
Game 1 was a front-loaded slugfest with 19 combined hits and 17 total runs scored — along with four errors — through the first two innings. Menlo managed to plate six runs in the opening frame while the Vulcans got three runs back in the bottom of the first inning. The Oaks then added a pair of runs for a five-run advantage before Hawai'i Hilo lashed out seven hits for six runs to take a one-run lead after two complete innings.
Tui Ickes smashed a three-run homer and Chris Varljen later provided the go-ahead score with an RBI base hit. Varljen later brought in the game-winning run on a hard-hit ball to second base that was thrown away on a fielder's choice for a double-play attempt. Kadota scored on the batted ball as Mark Fedro came around the horn to score on the error to make it a 12-8 ballgame in the fourth inning.
John Navarro was tagged with the win with 3.0 innings of early-relief work, giving up two hits and three runs (one unearned). Braden Lowe entered in the top of the eighth and closed out the final 1.2 innings for his second save of the season.
Game 2 was another back-and-forth affair as the Vulcans clawed back from a four-run deficit to score four runs through the final three innings as Nate Gray Jr. walked off the game and the season with an RBI double off the right-field wall — just mere inches from leaving the ballpark.
Cody Min jump started the comeback bid with a solo home run in the bottom of the fourth. An inning later, Gray Jr. and Kalei Alana clutched up on two outs with an RBI single and a two-RBI triple, respectively, to even the score at 8-all. Noah Pang — who entered in the top of the sixth along with Fedro, Ickes and Noah Nakaoka in place of seniors Arthur Soto, Sy Stephens, Bryce Lindberg and Varljen — then drew a lead-off hit-by-pitch to start the bottom of the seventh as Gray Jr. followed up to deliver the walk-off hit.
Hawai'i Hilo closes the season 14-35 overall (12-31 in PacWest play) while Menlo moved to a 11-39 record (9-35 in conference).
UP NEXT: 2026 Season
SENIOR DAY: This year's squad featured 16 departing student-athletes who were honored following Saturday's game as part of Senior Day festivities — Kyle Casdaos, Mason Cook, Luke Dickson, Sebastian Garcia, Logan Groff, Reece Kadota, Noah Lane, Bryce Lindberg, Cody Min, John Navarro, Vance Oshiro, Ethan Salscheider, Arthur Soto, Sy Stephens, Tyrus Stephens, Chris Varljen
ENDING OF AN ERA: Prior to Saturday's doubleheader, a special recognition ceremony honored 12th-year head coach Kallen Miyataki for over 30 years of service to the Hawai'i Hilo Baseball program. Vulcans director of athletics Patrick Guillen, UH Hilo chancellor Dr. Bonnie Irwin, Hawai'i County council member Dennis "Fresh" Onishi, Vulcan Booster President Chris Schlueter and former Vulcans Baseball player and coach Kevin Yee were special guests for the pre-game honors. Miyataki's grandson threw out the ceremonial first pitch.
