Box Score

Hawaii Hilo's Kyle Watase went 3-for-4 with a homer and three RBI as the visiting Vulcans defeated Fresno Pacific 7-2 on Thursday to open up a four-game PacWest series between the two teams.

The Sunbirds (6-8, 1-4 PacWest) took a 2-0 lead in the first inning on an RBI single by Joshua Banuelos and a sac fly from John Koretoff. FPU held the 2-0 lead until the fifth inning, when two costly errors extended the inning and allowed Watase to deliver a two-run go-ahead homer for the Vulcans.

Sunbird ace J.D. Salles (2-2) labored for 8 2/3 innings, giving up 12 hits and four earned runs while striking out two. Jeremy De La Cruz (1-1) went seven innings, giving up just the two runs in the first inning to earn the win.

Michael Hostetler went 3-for-5 and Baron Bower was 3-for-4 for the Sunbirds. Banuelos continued to swing a hot bat, finishing 2-for-4 with an RBI.

The two teams match up again this Saturday for a doubleheader beginning at 4 pm. The final game of the series will be played on Sunday at 2 pm, a game rescheduled due to rain.