AZUSA, California – Hawai'i Hilo Baseball dropped both ends of a doubleheader against Azusa Pacific, 15-9 and 9-4, on Saturday in Pacific West Conference play at the Cougar Baseball Complex.
Noah Nakaoka couldn't be stopped at the plate as he batted 5 for 5 with two home runs and four RBI in Game 1. In Game 2, Aaron Rapoza dialed in for a 3-for-3 performance at the plate with a solo home run to put the Vulcans on the scoreboard in the sixth inning.
Azusa Pacific utilized its homefield advantage well and managed to knock eight total home runs through Saturday's doubleheader.
NOTES
- Game 1: Hawai'i Hilo 9 - Azusa Pacific 15
- APU managed to overcome an early 3-0 Vulcans lead with consecutive big-scoring frames in the bottom of the third through the fifth innings, totaling eight hits (four home runs) for 11 runs.
- Nakaoka's two-run homer in the fourth tied the game at 5-5 — part of a four-run frame that briefly gave the Vulcans a 7-5 advantage.
- Devin Hayashi provided 3.0 scoreless innings of relief with two strikeouts and just one hit given up.
- Nakaoka recorded four putouts in center field while Colby Rafail had six in right field.
- Game 2: Hawai'i Hilo 4 - Azusa Pacific 9 (7 inn.)
- Azusa Pacific took an early lead with back-to-back solo homers in the first before adding five runs in the bottom of the third.
- Rapoza homered to lead off the top of the sixth to put the Vulcans on the board.
- Hawai'i Hilo threatened in the top of the seventh as Evan Merz crushed a no-doubt three-run homer to cut the deficit to five runs.
- Former Vulcan Noah Lane '25 had three hits and two RBI (solo home run) for APU.
- Hawai'i Hilo: 9-11 Overall (8-8 PacWest)
- Preseason Coaches Poll: No. 11
- Current Conference Standing: No. 7
- Azusa Pacific: 12-14 Overall (10-7 PacWest)
- Azusa, California
- Preseason Coaches Poll: No. 3
- Current Conference Standing: No. 4
UP NEXT
- Monday, March 16 (NOON + 3 PM PT) at Azusa Pacific (Azusa, California)
- Friday, March 20 (11 AM + 2 PM PT) at Fresno Pacific (Fresno, California)
- Saturday, March 21 (9 AM + NOON PT) at Fresno Pacific (Fresno, California)
- Wednesday, March 25 (8 AM + 11 AM PT) at Westmont (Santa Barbara, California)
- Thursday, March 26 (8 AM + 11 AM PT) 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.
