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Hawai'i Hilo Vulcans Athletics

HAWAI'I HILO VULCANS ATHLETICS
9
Hawaii Hilo UHH 9-12, 8-9 PacWest
11
Winner Azusa Pacific APU 13-14, 11-7 PacWest
Hawaii Hilo UHH
9-12, 8-9 PacWest
9
Final
11
Azusa Pacific APU
13-14, 11-7 PacWest
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Hawaii Hilo UHH 0 0 2 1 0 5 0 1 0 9 12 0
Azusa Pacific APU 1 0 1 0 5 0 1 3 X 11 12 0

W: Andrew Miller (1-2) L: Saucedo, Blake (0-1)

8
Winner Hawaii Hilo UHH 10-12, 9-9 PacWest
6
Azusa Pacific APU 13-15, 11-8 PacWest
Winner
Hawaii Hilo UHH
10-12, 9-9 PacWest
8
Final
6
Azusa Pacific APU
13-15, 11-8 PacWest
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Hawaii Hilo UHH 0 1 3 4 0 0 0 8 8 0
Azusa Pacific APU 0 0 0 1 2 1 2 6 9 1

W: Darnell, Noah (3-3) L: Edwin Segovia (0-1) S: Sanchez, Logan (3)

Hunter Gatti
Anthony Akau / Hawai‘i Hilo Sports Information
Hunter Gatti (29)

Game Recap: Baseball | | Hawai‘i Hilo Sports Information

Gatti's Big Night Powers Vulcans in Series Finale

AZUSA, California – Hunter Gatti went 3 for 3 with five RBI at the plate to power Hawai'i Hilo Baseball past Azusa Pacific, 8-6, in the series finale on Monday night to split a Pacific West Conference doubleheader at the Cougar Baseball Complex.

Gatti put on a hitters clinic and battled through nine-pitch full counts both times to drive in five runs with a three-run homer in the third followed by a two-RBI single in the fourth to give the Vulcans an 8-0 cushion.

In Monday's opener, Evan Merz homered twice for five total RBI to help fuel a five-run comeback that briefly gave Hawai'i Hilo an 8-7 lead before Azusa Pacific rallied for three runs in the bottom of the eighth for an 11-9 win.

APU took the series, 3-1, as both teams combined for 20 total homers through the Vulcans' final games played at the Cougar Baseball Complex — Azusa Pacific is set to move to Division III next season.

NOTES

  • Game 1: Hawai'i Hilo 9 - Azusa Pacific 11
    • Merz's two-run homer in the third gave the Vulcans a 2-1 lead before adding a three-run blast in the sixth to cap a five-run inning that tied the game at 8-7.
    • Braeden Mondeau added the Vulcans final three runs with an RBI triple and a score on a wild pitch in the top of the sixth before contributing an RBI ground out an inning later to give Hawai'i Hilo a one-run advantage at a 9-8 score.
    • APU's Isaiah Rios managed to hit a two-out grand slam to give the Cougars a 7-3 lead in the bottom of the fifth.
    • Azusa Pacific grabbed the lead for good in the bottom of the eighth with a two-out two-run double by Tyler Preece to make it 11-9.
    • Mondeau finished with three putouts and five assists at second base.
  • Game 2: Hawai'i Hilo 8 - Azusa Pacific 6 (7 inn.)
    • Gatti battled 3 for 3 with two runs scored and five total RBI. 
    • Noah Darnell got a third consecutive win in his third consecutive outing, going 5.1 innings with five strikeouts.
    • Orlando Leon Jr. entered in the sixth and struck out back-to-back batters to retire the side to keep the score at an 8-4 advantage.
    • After a two-run homer with two outs inched the Cougars within two runs, Logan Sanchez entered to induce the final out — a fielded comebacker to himself — for his third save of the season.
  • Series Statistics
    • Aaron Rapoza batted .429 with two RBI and four runs scored while collecting 10 assists (1.000).
    • Merz led with nine total RBI and eight runs scored.
    • Colby Rafail led with 16 putouts (1.000) in right field.
  • Hawai'i Hilo: 10-12 Overall (9-9 PacWest)
    • Preseason Coaches Poll: No. 11
    • Current Conference Standing: No. 7
  • Azusa Pacific: 13-15 Overall (11-8 PacWest)
    • Azusa, California
    • Preseason Coaches Poll: No. 3
    • Current Conference Standing: No. 4

UP NEXT

  • 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 No. 16 Westmont (Santa Barbara, California)
  • Thursday, March 26 (8 AM + 11 AM PT) at No. 16 Westmont (Santa Barbara, California)
  • Friday, April 3 (3 PM + 6 PM) vs No. 8 Point Loma (James "Jimmy" Correa Ballfield at Dr. Francis F.C. Wong Stadium)
  • Saturday, April 4 (3 PM + 6 PM) vs No. 8 Point Loma (James "Jimmy" Correa Ballfield at Dr. Francis F.C. Wong Stadium)
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.

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