Vulcans beat Rainbows twice
Advertiser Staff
The Hawai'i-Hilo Vulcans baseball club made history last night.
Kaliko Oligo drove in four runs and Robert Shimabuku pitched 6 2/3 strong innings to lead the Vulcans over UH-Manoa, 6-4, at Wong Stadium.
In a continuation of Friday's suspended game, Johnny Dudoit doubled home Darren Chu in the bottom of the 12th inning to give the Vulcans a 10-9 win to snap a three-game losing streak.
It was the second time in 110 meeting that the Vulcans (6-25-1) have won consecutive games against the Rainbows (7-14). Manoa's losing streak has been extended to five. The Rainbows lost consecutive meetings against the Vulcans three days apart during the 1984 Easter Tournament.
"We've been playing well the last couple of weeks," UHH coach Joey Estrella said. "Against Santa Clara and Pepperdine, we played OK, but it's usually been one bad inning that hurts us. But it's good to play well against a very good team."
Daniel Lockett (2-1) got the win in the earlier game for two-thirds of an inning of work. He pitched 2¡ scoreless innings in the nightcap for his second save.
Friday's game was suspended with two out in the bottom of the 12th with Chu batting against Matt Le Ducq with a 3-2 count when the umpires pulled the players off the field because of rain. About 20 minutes later, the game was suspended.
When play resumed yesterday, the Rainbows started with Sean Yamashita inheriting Le Ducq's full count. After fouling off the first pitch, Chu walked, which was charged to Le Ducq (1-1) as per scoring rules. Dudoit, whose three-run home run in the eighth tied the game at 9, doubled to left center to score Chu.
In yesterday's regularly scheduled game, Shimabuku (1-5) was nursing a 2-1 lead before Oligo's three-run triple broke the game open. Douglas Nassimbene's sacrifice fly scored Oligo to make it 6-1.
The Rainbows mounted their biggest threat in the top of the seventh. With two out, Brian Bock and Brent Cook walked before Kevin Gilbride's single loaded the bases to chase Shimabuku.
Lockett came in and walked Lane Nogawa to force in one run and gave up a two-run single to Scooter Martines as the Rainbows pulled to 6-4. But Derek Honma struck out to end the inning.
Shimabuku allowed four runs on four hits and four walks to get his first pitching win of the season.
Rainbows' starter Chris George (0-2) had a season-high 12 strikeouts, but allowed six runs on nine hits and two walks in six innings.
Making his season debut for the Rainbows was center fielder Nate Jackson, a junior in baseball eligibility.
Jackson, who finished his eligibility in football in the fall, was expected to have shoulder surgery but put it off, UH coach Mike Trapasso said. Trapasso said Jackson has been working out with the team for about 2 1/2 weeks, but was just cleared to play for this series.
Jackson started in center field in the night cap, batting 2 for 4.
"I talked to our players and our guys said they liked him, they like him as a person," Trapasso said.
The series concludes with a doubleheader at 11 a.m. today. It is the home finale for the Vulcans.
The Vulcans will send Clay Daugherty (1-1) in the seven-inning opener and Jeremiah Wolske (0-5) in the nightcap.
Trapasso was not sure of today's starters, but said Ricky Bauer is likely to pitch one of the games. Jason Piepmeier and Sean Yamashita are being considered for the other game.
William Quaglieri was scheduled to start, but he pitched three innings of relief on Friday.
Notes: UH-Hilo reliever Kelii Correa transferred from UH-Manoa. Correa, a Kamehameha Schools graduate, was a tryout with the Rainbows during the fall.
Correction: The Rainbows lost consecutive meetings against the Vulcans three days apart during the 1984 Easter Tournament. A previous version of this story had other information.
