HIGHLIGHTS
» Game-Winning 3-RBI Home Run in T5 vs No. 22 Concordia (March 17, 2026)
» Walk-Off Single in B8 vs HPU (April 21, 2024)
STUDENT IN STUDENT-ATHLETE
» 2024-25 D2 Athletic Directors Association Academic Achievement Award
» 2024-25 Academic All-PacWest Team
» 2024-25 Hawai‘i Hilo Student-Athlete Academic Honors
» 2023-24 Academic All-PacWest Team
2026 (Junior): Tripled for an RBI and collected four putouts with one assist in 4-1 W vs Jessup (Feb 27). Hit a game-tying sacrifice fly to cap a five-run B7 before falling by a run in nine innings vs Dominican (March 4). Pinch hit in B6 to draw a full-count walk before coming around to score the Vulcans first run in 3-2 W vs Dominican (March 5). Hit an RBI double and scored a run in 6-2 W vs Azusa Pacific (March 11). Hit an RBI double and scored go-ahead run in T9 before falling by a run in nine-inning L vs Biola (March 14). Entered as a pinch hitter in the T4 and slugged game-winning three-run homer in T5 to cap a five-run rally in 6-5 W vs No. 22 Concordia (March 17).
2025 (Sophomore): Played in 34 total games, making 15 starts ... Hit 1 for 2 and scored two runs, including the game-tying score in the B6 of a 12-8 win vs HPU (Feb. 26). Cranked first career home run with a pinch-hit full-count slam to left field in T6 of a 6-0 win vs Academy of Art (March 15). Had two RBI and scored twice in 10-5 W vs Jessup (March 19). Brought in the Vulcans lone run with a first-inning RBI single in L vs Dominican (March 21). Drew a walk and came around to score in 3-0 W vs Menlo (March 24). Had a hit and came around to score while collecting three putouts and four assists at second base in 3-0 W vs Vanguard (April 4). Drew two bases-loaded walks for two RBI with two putouts and two assists in 9-0 W vs Vanguard (April 5).
2024 (Freshman): Played in 14 games with six starts as designated player ... Got a pinch-hit bunt single in B7 before scoring in a two-run loss to Dominican (March 2). Drew a two-out bases-loaded full-count hit by pitch for an RBI in T1 as part of a 4-2 win vs Biola (March 19). Knocked a walk-off single through the left side in B8 for a 7-6 win vs HPU in the regular season finale (April 21) ... Helped Vulcans to qualify for PacWest Championships postseason tournament, coming away with a third-place finish.
BEFORE HAWAI‘I HILO
» 2022 graduate of Kealakehe High School (Hawai‘i)
» Four seasons of varsity softball for coaches Loni Mercado and Teizha Kaluna
» Club/Travel Teams: RBI Nobu Yamauchi
PERSONAL
» Born April 2004 in Hawai‘i
» Parents: Darlene and Royce
» Siblings: 4
» Career Aspirations: Massage/Physical Therapist or Physical Trainer
» Major: Kinesiology & Exercise Sciences
WHY HAWAI‘I HILO
» "It is a privilege to be able to play the sport that I have been devoted to majority of my life for my home state. As I represent my family name, I also get to represent my home, while being able to pursue a higher education and strive for the career I have always aspired to achieve."
FAVORITES
» Hobbies: Weight Lifting, Power Lifting, CrossFit
» Sports Moment: "Winning the BIIF Championship my senior year of high school in 2022 while my younger sister was a freshman at the time. It was a privilege to have been able to play at least one high school season alongside my younger sister. Since I was Kealakehe's ace pitcher, it was an honor to have my younger sister be my catcher. We were known as the "Joaquin Sister Duo" and those memories will forever resonate with me."
» Sports Teams: Los Angeles Dodgers
» Athletes: Nawai Kaupe, Jocelyn Alo
