HILO, Hawai'i – Kawana Soares launched a solo bomb over the left field fence in the bottom of the 10th inning to give Hawai'i Hilo Baseball a 6-5 walk-off victory over Concordia University Irvine in the opener before dropping the series finale, 7-1, on Monday afternoon in Pacific West Conference play at the James "Jimmy" Correa Ballfield at Dr. Francis F.C. Wong Stadium.
The Vulcans brought out the boomstick in Game 1 as Braeden Mondeau hit a three-run homer in the bottom of the first followed by solo shots from Mark Fedro in the sixth and Soares in the extra inning. Hawai'i Hilo was one out away from securing the win in regulation but Concordia's David Baruch III hit an infield grounder to second base that couldn't be fielded and allowed the game-tying run to score and extend the game.
Much like Sunday's series-opening doubleheader, it was a tale of two games as the Vulcans were held to just four hits in the nightcap.
NOTES
- Game 1: Concordia 5 - Hawai'i Hilo 6 (10 inn.)
- CUI managed to tie the game at 3-3 in the sixth on a two-run single, but Fedro answered with his solo homer in the bottom half to give the Vulcans back the lead.
- Concordia re-tied the game in the seventh after drawing three walks in a row to score one run.
- Dom Agrella drew his second walk of the game to load the bases in the bottom half of the seventh as Fedro followed up with another drawn walk to give the Vulcans the lead once again.
- After CUI tied the game in the top of the ninth, the Vulcans opened the bottom frame with two runners on but couldn't quite cash in to keep the score tied.
- Soares hit his second homer of the season on a 1-1 count to give the Vulcans the victory.
- Moosa Nonomiya pitched the final two innings to get the win on record. Hawai'i Hilo used seven total pitchers.
- Game 2: Concordia 7 - Hawai'i Hilo 1 (7 inn.)
- Concordia totaled nine timely hits to just four by Hawai'i Hilo.
- Ivor Brooks brought in the Vulcans' lone run on an RBI single in the fourth.
- Hawai'i Hilo: 13-25 Overall (12-22 PacWest)
- Preseason Coaches Poll: No. 11
- Current Conference Standing: No. 10
- Concordia University Irvine: 24-20 Overall (22-14 PacWest)
- Irvine, California
- Preseason Coaches Poll: No. 6
- Current Conference Standing: No. 2
UP NEXT
- Saturday, April 25 (2 PM + 5 PM) at Chaminade (Honolulu, Hawai'i)
- Sunday, April 26 (NOON + 3 PM) at Chaminade (Honolulu, Hawai'i)
- Wednesday, April 29 (6:35 PM) at UH Manoa (Honolulu, Hawai'i)
- Friday, May 1 (3 PM + 6 PM) vs HPU (James "Jimmy" Correa Ballfield at Dr. Francis F.C. Wong Stadium)
- Saturday, May 2 (NOON + 3 PM) vs HPU (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.
