SANTA BARBARA, California – Hawai'i Hilo Baseball dropped the opener, 9-7, before rallying for a 10-8 victory in the series finale to split Thursday's doubleheader against No. 19 Westmont in the back-end of a four-game series in Pacific West Conference play at Russ Carr Field.

Kolby Gushiken (7-9 H, HR, 3 RBI, 5 R), Evan Merz (5-8 H, 2B, 3 RBI, 3 R, 1 BB), Hunter Gatti (5-8, 2 RBI, 1 R, 1 BB) and Aaron Rapoza (3 for 4, 2B, 3 RBI, 1 R) each were productive at the plate in Thursday's games with the Vulcans rapping out 15 hits in each contest — matching a season high shared with four other games.

In Game 1, the Vulcans trailed by two heading into the ninth and strung together four consecutive base hits to plate a run and load the bases with one out, but Westmont brought in Brandon Tatch who managed to retire the side and preserve the win for his fourth save of the season.

In the series finale, the Vulcans answered Westmont's five-run bottom of the fifth with seven runs of their own in the top of the sixth to seize a 10-7 lead. Logan Sanchez entered in relief in the bottom of the fifth and tossed three innings to earn the win, finishing the game by inducing a 6-4-3 double play to close out the victory.

Hawai'i Hilo's last win against a ranked opponent was seven-inning 6-3 victory over No. 4 Point Loma on March 8, 2024.

The Vulcans head home after a nearly two-week road trip having gone 2-10 against Azusa Pacific, Fresno Pacific and Westmont.

NOTES

• Game 1: Hawai'i Hilo 7 - No. 19 Westmont 9
  • The Vulcans scored three runs in the first started by Gushiken's first-pitch lead-off home run.
  • Westmont answered with seven runs in the bottom of the second on four hits aided by three hit batters and a defensive error.
  • In the top of the ninth, the Vulcans strung four consecutive base hits to plate a run and cut the deficit to two. With the bases loaded and just one out, Westmont brought in Brandon Tatch, who retired the next two batters to record his fourth save of the season.
  • Gushiken finished 3 for 5 with a home run, a double and three runs scored.
  • Merz went 3 for 4 with a double, two runs scored and one RBI.
  • Gatti went 3 for 4 with one RBI and a walk.
  • Colby Rafail collected six putouts in center field.
  • Vulcans pitchers combined for eight strikeouts wiht 10 induced fly outs and three ground outs.
• Game 2: Hawai'i Hilo 10 - No. 19 Westmont 8 (7 inn.)
  • After Westmont erased a 3-2 deficit with five runs in the bottom of the fifth (capped by a three-run homer), the Vulcans responded with seven runs in the top of the sixth. With the bases loaded, Gatti hit a grounder up the middle with Westmont ready to feast on a potential inning-ending double play to keep the game tied, but the defender was ruled to have missed the bag at second, resulting in just one out and the game-winning RBI grounder by Gatti. Rapoza followed up and cashed in with a two-RBI double to push the lead to 10-7.
  • Westmont got one run back in the sixth before Sanchez shut the door in the seventh, inducing a 6-4-3 double play to end the game.
  • Gushiken went 4 for 4 with two RBI and two runs scored.
  • Rapoza went 2 for 3 with a double, two RBI and a run scored while recording three putouts and six assists at second base.
  • Merz added two hits, two RBI and a run scored.
  • Gatti went 2 for 4 with one RBI and a run scored.
  • Ivor Brooks collected two putouts and five assists at shortstop.
• Gushiken batted .647 (11 for 17) over the four-game series with eight runs scored, one home run, three RBI, one walk and a 1.000 fielding percentage on eight putouts.
• Hawai'i Hilo: 11-19 Overall (10-16 PacWest)
  • Preseason Coaches Poll: No. 11
  • Current Conference Standing: No. 10
• No. 19 Westmont: 20-6 Overall (17-6 PacWest)
  • Santa Barbara, California
  • Preseason Coaches Poll: No. 1
  • Current Conference Standing: No. 1

UP NEXT

• Friday, April 3 (3 PM + 6 PM) vs No. 4 Point Loma (James "Jimmy" Correa Ballfield at Dr. Francis F.C. Wong Stadium)
• Saturday, April 4 (3 PM + 6 PM) vs No. 4 Point Loma (James "Jimmy" Correa Ballfield at Dr. Francis F.C. Wong Stadium)
• Sunday, April 12 (3 PM + 6 PM) vs Concordia (James "Jimmy" Correa Ballfield at Dr. Francis F.C. Wong Stadium)
• Monday, April 13 (3 PM + 6 PM) vs Concordia (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.