HILO, Hawai'i – Hawai'i Hilo Baseball rallied to split Wednesday's doubleheader with Biola, dropping a 13-3 affair before piecing together a 10-9 comeback victory in Pacific West Conference play at the James "Jimmy" Correa Ballfield at Dr. Francis F.C. Wong Stadium.
The Eagles built a 4-1 lead through two innings in Game 1 and added five more in the top of the fourth — capped by Adiel Torres' two-run home run — to jump ahead on the scoreboard.
Hawai'i Hilo faced an even steeper deficit in the nightcap trailing 8-1 entering the fifth inning before erupting for eight runs in the bottom frame to take the lead on a two-RBI single by Noah Nakaoka. After Biola pulled even at 9-all in the top of the sixth, Kaiden Sonoda-Fukumoto delivered a bases-loaded full-count go-ahead RBI single to give the Vulcans the final margin.
NOTES
- Game 1: Biola 13 - Hawai'i Hilo 3
- Three Vulcans defensive errors in the top of the second inning contributed to three unearned runs for the Eagles.
- Kawana Soares batted 3 for 3 (one double) with a stolen base and seven putouts behind the dish.
- Colby Rafail doubled and scored twice, driving in one run.
- Shortstop Ivor Brooks totaled five assists and two putouts.
- Torres' fourth-inning two-run homer highlighted a five-hit five-run frame for Biola.
- Game 2: Biola 9 - Hawai'i Hilo 10 (7 inn.)
- Down 8-1 entering the bottom of the fifth, the Vulcans sent 14 batters to the plate and scored eight runs on four hits and six walks — including four in a row — to take a 9-8 advantage. Nakaoka came up as a pinch hitter and delivered the key blow of the rally with a bases-loaded two-strike two-RBI single up the middle.
- In his first career start, Sonoda-Fukumoto drew two walks and scored twice before singling home the game-winner run in the sixth. The redshirt-freshman also recorded three assists and one putout at third base.
- Dom Agrella made his first appearances of the season and got the start in Game 2 — hitting a double, drawing two walks, scoring twice and recording seven putouts and one assist at first base.
- Maka Shigematsu made his first start of the season recording two putouts and three assists at second base.
- Redshirt-senior Devin Meyer earned his first career win in 1.1 innings of relief with freshman Logan Sanchez closing it out for his first save.
- Hawai'i Hilo: 4-8 Overall (3-5 PacWest)
- Preseason Coaches Poll: No. 11
- Biola: 12-10 Overall (8-6 PacWest)
- La Mirada, California
- Preseason Coaches Poll: No. 5
UP NEXT
- Thursday, March 5 (3 PM + 6 PM) vs Biola (James "Jimmy" Correa Ballfield at Dr. Francis F.C. Wong Stadium)
- Monday, March 9 (3 PM + 6 PM) vs Vanguard (James "Jimmy" Correa Ballfield at Dr. Francis F.C. Wong Stadium)
- Tuesday, March 10 (3 PM + 6 PM) vs Vanguard (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.
