HILO, Hawai'i – Evan Merz smashed a walk-off double in the 10th inning to open Tuesday's twinbill, and Noah Darnell threw a seven-inning complete game in the nightcap to power Hawai'i Hilo Baseball past Vanguard for a 3-1 series victory in Pacific West Conference play at the James "Jimmy" Correa Ballfield at Dr. Francis F.C. Wong Stadium.
Kolby Gushiken drove in three total runs in Tuesday's doubleheader, entering in the bottom of the seventh of Game 1 to slam a go-ahead two-RBI pinch-hit single.
Across the four-game series, Merz reached base in every contest, finishing with three doubles, five runs and six walks to go with Tuesday's walk-off hit. Logan Sanchez earned a save in Monday's Game 1 and got the win in Tuesday's opening contest posting 2.2 scoreless innings with four strikeouts.
Hawai'i Hilo closes the homestand clinching back-to-back series wins (Biola and Vanguard) having won six of its last eight contests.
NOTES
- Game 1: Vanguard 4 - Hawai'i Hilo 5 (10 inn.)
- Down by a run heading into the bottom of the seventh, Kaiden Sonoda-Fukumoto led off with a base hit followed by Kawana Soares' second walk of the game. A sacrifice bunt moved runners over before Gushiken delivered a pinch-hit two-RBI single to give the Vulcans a 4-3 lead.
- Vanguard answered in the eighth with three hits to tie it at 4-4, but Logan Sanchez entered with two runners on and stranded them both with back-to-back strikeouts to retire the side.
- Gushiken led off the 10th with a hit-by-pitch and later scored on Merz's walk-off smack.
- Dom Agrella hit a sacrifice fly to score Merz and knot the game at 2-2 in the sixth inning.
- Sanchez (1-0) struck out four and allowed zero runs over 2.2 innings for the freshman's first career win.
- Game 2: Vanguard 2 - Hawai'i Hilo 4 (7 inn.)
- Ivor Brooks whacked a two-out two-RBI single in the bottom of the second to make it a 2-1 advantage. Brooks finished the game with five putouts and two assists at shortstop.
- Merz led off the third with a double down the right-field line and scored on a base hit by Agrella. Gushiken followed up and drove in another run with a two-out two-strike single up the middle.
- Darnell (2-3) worked all seven innings, scattering eight hits with just one walk surrendered while grabbing two strikeouts and an assist.
- Merz went 2 for 3 with two doubles.
- Hawai'i Hilo: 9-9 Overall (8-6 PacWest)
- Preseason Coaches Poll: No. 11
- Current Conference Standing: No. 5
- Vanguard: 5-18 Overall (2-15 PacWest)
- Costa Mesa, California
- Preseason Coaches Poll: No. 7
- Current Conference Standing: No. 11
UP NEXT
- Saturday, March 14 (Doubleheader) at Azusa Pacific (Azusa, California)
- Monday, March 16 (Doubleheader) at Azusa Pacific (Azusa, California)
- Friday, March 20 (11 AM + 2 PM) at Fresno Pacific (Fresno, California)
- Saturday, March 21 (9 AM + NOON) at Fresno Pacific (Fresno, California)
- Wednesday, March 25 (8 AM + 11 AM) at Westmont (Santa Barbara, California)
- Thursday, March 26 (8 AM + 11 AM) at Westmont (Santa Barbara, California)
PACWEST PRESEASON POLL
Hawai'i Hilo was voted No. 11 in the Pacific West Conference Preseason Coaches Poll. The Vulcans finished the 2025 regular season at No. 11 in the conference standings. The four-team 2026 PacWest Championships postseason tournament will be hosted by Westmont on May 6-8 in Santa Barbara, California.
PURCHASE TICKETS
Season and individual tickets for the Vulcans' 27 home matches at the James "Jimmy" Correa Ballfield at Dr. Francis F.C. Wong Stadium are available for purchase at HiloAthletics.com/tickets. Season tickets are $115 ($60 for seniors 65+ and middle/high school students).
BUY LIVESTREAM PACKAGE
Video livestreaming will be available for all home events this season through the PacWest Network, powered by Hudl TV. More information is available at HiloAthletics.com/livestream. Single-game passes for baseball are offered at $15, doubleheader day passes at $26.25 and a season-package (27 games) price of $303.75.
