Try as it might, the University of Hawaii at Hilo couldn’t quite muster a sweep.
Still, a split against No. 8 Cal Baptist had to feel good, if not tiresome.
The Lancers survived a nightcap that almost ran into Sunday morning, holding on for a 6-5 victory at rainy Wong Stadium.
The baseball game didn’t start until 9:24 p.m. Saturday, and it ended when Caleb Dirks induced Austin Cusack to bounce out with the bases loaded after UH-Hilo (7-9, 6-6 Pacific West Conference) had already rallied for two runs in the bottom of the seventh.
The Vulcans won the first game 6-4 in a contest that was twice delayed by rain. Cusack, a designated hitter, walked and scored the tying run on a wild pitch in the fifth, and then he drove in the go-ahead run in the sixth with a sacrifice fly to score center fielder Jordan Murai, who had reached on a bunt single.
After splitting the four-game set with the Lancers (19-7, 5-7), UH-Hilo makes a quick turnaround and flies to California on Sunday morning. The Vulcans face Sonoma State in a doubleheader on Tuesday.
Cusack and Murai each finished with three hits in the first game, and Murai scored twice.
Waiakea graduate Sheldon Shishido pitched four innings of scoreless of relief, allowing only two hits with two strikeouts to improve to 2-0. Michael Slifer got two outs for his fourth save.
Hard-throwing right-hander Trevor Oaks (4-0) was dominant at times but wild for Cal Baptist in the second game and UH-Hilo got to him late.
Murai walked and scored in the sixth and singled in a run in the seventh. Kyle Watase was 2 for 3 for the Vulcans. He singled and scored on a wild pitch in the sixth, then was hit with the bases loaded in the seventh against Oaks, who lasted 6 2/3 innings and allowed five runs and five hits with eight strikeouts and seven walks.
Jordan Kumasaka (0-1) started and took the loss of the Vulcans. In 3 2/3 innings, he gave up seven hits and three runs.
Stephen Lohr had two hits in each game for the Lancers and Antonio Chavarria went 2 for 3 with a two-run single in the second game.
First game
Cal Baptist 100 030 000 —4 12 3
UH-Hilo 210 011 010 — 6 9 1
Second game
Cal Baptist 100 221 0 —6 12 0
UH-Hilo 010 002 2—5 5 2