The University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo baseball team shut out 15th-ranked Augustana University, 4-0, February 1 to open the 2023 season with a win at Francis Wong Stadium in non-conference play.
Five Vulcans pitchers—Christian DeJesus, Aaron Davies, Orlando Leon Jr., Christian Wood and Jake Liberta—played their parts in earning the victory by combining to allow just four hits and zero runs to go along with 11 strikeouts.
The Vikings pitchers gave up just three free bases to Vulcans batters as Yamauchi got a lead-off walk in the bottom of the first inning.
At his next at-bat in the third inning, Yamauchi went over the left-field fence for a solo home run and the first of the fifth-year senior’s career.
In the fifth inning, Yamauchi recorded a hit, then, after stealing second and getting a good jump on a subsequent pitch, came home when freshman catcher Mason Cook drilled a liner to center field for the RBI.
After a lead-off single by Blake Tweedt in the sixth inning, Joshua Fuentes added the Vulcans’ fourth and final run with a two-out RBI ground-single up the middle.
Liberta came on the mound in the top of the ninth with one out in relief of Wood’s scoreless 1-1/3 innings of work. After the senior loaded the bases with two walks and a single given up, Liberta struck out the side to end the game and take the victory for the Vulcans.
