The UH-Hilo Vulcan baseball team concluded their six-game series against the Golden Eagles of Minnesota Crookston, splitting a doubleheader at Wong Stadium.

The UH-Hilo Vulcans are 9-2 overall. They won the first game Sunday 10-8, followed by a lose in the final game 1-0.

In game one, Minnesota Crookston who are 3-6 overall, jumped ahead 7-3 over the Vulcans and held that lead until the eighth when Vulcan bats made some adjustments and launched a two-out rally.

Eric Peterson single with two-outs, advanced Kobie Russell to third base and Casey Yamauchi up to second. The Vulcans Russell walked to begin the inning and Yamauchi was hit by a pitch.

Russell scored on a wild pitch. Then Kanbara walked, loading the bases again. Vulcan Joseph Gallagher blasted a right-field single coring Yamauchi and Peterson.

Sakay then singled to the right field to reloading the bases once more. Chris Aubort was next, he cleared the bases, with a double into right field along the line, giving UH-Hilo the lead 9 to 7.

Brett Komatsu kept the rally going by putting down a perfectly placed bunt, which he easily outran. Russell came up again for the second time in the eigth inning. He singled to left-center field and Aubort scored to stretch the lead to 10-7.

Vulcan Jacob Liberta was this game’s winning pitcher. UMC’s momentum was stopped cold by Liberta with a strikeout with two outs with the bases loaded.

John Kea ended the game in the ninth. He earned his second save for the season.

In game two. The seven inning game, the final game of the series, featured a pitching match between Golden Eagle Jake Dykhoff and Vulcan Barron Holtz.

Barron Holtz pitched a great night, allowing only two hits in five innings. However, Jake Dykhoff from UMC was able to match his performance and shut down the Vulcan offense.

Minnesota Crookston’s Dykoff pitched a complete game shutout Sunday night. He only allowed three hits and struck out seven batters.

The Golden Eagles scored its lone run in the fourth inning via a sacrifice fly. It scored Ben Thoma. Thoma had started the inning off with a walked.

Next up…The Vulcans’ conference opener against the Hawai’i Pacific Sharks on O’ahu. The game will be played at 5pm HST at Hans L’Orange Park.