Box Score

Baron Bower went 3-for-4 and Josh Medeles threw 4 2/3 innings of scoreless relief as FPU defeated Hawaii Hilo 4-2, taking three out of four in the series from the Vulcans.

The Sunbirds (9-8, 4-4 PacWest) trailed 2-1 in the eighth but got three runs across, highlighted by a two-out game-tying single by Hunter Villanueva that scored Bower. The Sunbirds then scored two more runs after John Koretoff grounded the ball to third and the UHH third baseman was unable to make the throw that would have ended the inning.

"Our confidence was shaken a week ago, but we're a tough team we've got a bunch of tough players and so it doesn't surprise me how we came back and won it today," said head coach Oscar Hirschkorn. "Today's pitcher for Hilo was tough and it was going to take us stringing together a handful of at-bats in a row to get the runs and that's what we did. We need to do a better job with runners in scoring position, especially early in the game, but overall this was a big series win."

The Vulcans loaded the bases in the ninth but Medeles got out of the jam, getting UHH's Samuel Kim to fly out to end the game. Medeles earned the win in relief of starter Eian Raeber, who went 4 1/3 innings giving up just one hit but walking four and giving up two runs in the fifth. For UHH, Seamus Yoneshige went seven strong innings before surrendering the lead in the eight. The Vulcans fell to 2-6, 1-3 in the PacWest.

Kaohu Gaspar added two hits for FPU, including a crucial one in the eighth that kept the inning going as the Sunbirds battled back. Joshua Banuelos went 1-for-3 with an RBI and would strike out for the first time this season, breaking a remarkable string of 60 consecutive plate appearances without a strikeout.

The Sunbirds are back in action next weekend as they host Sonoma State for a weekend series, beginning Friday at 6 pm.