HILO >> Mike Trapasso spent a lot of time addressing his offense out in right field after Saturday night’s shutout loss to Hawaii Hilo in the opener.

The message delivered clearly got through.

Hawaii opened with a four-run first inning and pounded out 20 hits, but ended up needing almost all of them as it held off a game Vulcans squad 11-9 on Sunday afternoon at Francis Wong Stadium.

Jacob Sheldon-Collins had a career-high four hits and Eric Ramirez drove in three runs to help UH (1-1) secure a two-game season-opening split against Division II UH Hilo.

“It was a great weekend to accomplish what we wanted to accomplish and that was to get our guys uncomfortable, and now our guys have to get comfortable being uncomfortable,” Trapasso said. “That was the whole reason for getting out of our stadium and playing here. (Hawaii Hilo) was geeked up and making plays like crazy in this series and it was really fun to watch. Good for them because they flat out scrapped.”

Hawaii starter Kyle Von Ruden retired the first 11 batters he faced and got through the first three innings in 22 pitches.

Hawaii built an 8-1 lead in the fifth inning and had things well in control until two miscues in the field.

Von Ruden gave up a leadoff double and a one-out infield single when third baseman Johnny Weeks tried to bare-hand a ball and make a play at first but couldn’t.

UH Hilo then dropped a squeeze bunt and despite holding a seven-run cushion, Hawaii first baseman Eric Ramirez tried to get the out at home instead.

Phillip Steering beat the tag and the Vulcans added three more runs on Jonathan Segovia’s two-run single and Jacob Grijalva’s base hit to make it 8-5.

“Coach was saying I looked a little out of shape, so maybe that week off caught up to me a little bit,” said Von Ruden, who missed time last month with back spasms. “I left the ball up and they started catching up to it. When I live low we see what happens.”

Chayce Ka‘aua, who replaced starter Kekai Rios in the fourth inning, was 3-for-3 with two doubles and two runs scored and Alex Sawelson was 2-for-5 with a double, two runs and two RBIs as Hawaii continued to extend the lead.

The Vulcans kept coming back and had the bases loaded with one out in the eighth down 11-7. Matt Valencia allowed runs to score on a wild pitch and a sacrifice fly before Cody Culp came in and got all four batters he faced out to earn the save.

“It answered a lot of questions and concerns we have,” Vulcans coach Kallen Miyataki said. “We battled back and didn’t die and kept on plugging so that’s a good sign and good indication for us. We’re pleased with the result.”

Hawaii’s only lineup change was inserting Rios, a freshman from Kamehameha, behind the plate. He singled and scored in the fourth inning but had to leave the game with an illness.

Ka‘aua made the most of the opportunity, reaching base in every at-bat.

“We came out and hit like we know we can hit,” Ka‘aua said. “I got a second chance and made the most of it. After seeing everyone hit I was thinking, ‘man, I want my chance.’”

Hawaii had lost the past two against the Vulcans.

The nine runs given up were the most Hawaii Hilo had scored against UH in a span of 20 games dating back to 2002.

Left-hander Patrick Martin allowed four hits and a walk in 11⁄3 innings and right-hander Isaac Friesen gave up two hits with two strikeouts in an inning of work.

Both were making their UH debuts.

“I wanted (them) to pitch and get out there and it wasn’t pretty, but you’ve got to learn how to win,” Trapasso said.

The series marked the first games between Hilo and Manoa in eight years. Hawaii has won 109 of the 130 meetings and may not have to wait long to add to that record.

“Absolutely,” Trapasso said when asked if he’d play UH Hilo again. “It always depends on the schedule and how many games I got, but absolutely. This is big for them and it’s big for us to let our guys understand you’ve got to play every game against everybody.”

Added Miyataki: “It was big and great. We thank Trap and the Manoa program for allowing this to happen and we couldn’t ask for anything more. We’d love to do it again.”

Hawaii 11, Hawaii Hilo 9

E—Grijalva; Green; Steering. DP—Hawaii 1. Hawaii Hilo 2 LOB—Hawaii 12; Hawaii Hilo 5. 2b–Sheldon-Collins; Sawelson; Ka‘aua 2; Steering. 3b–LoCoco. HBP—Ramirez; Freitas. SF–Weeks; Yamada; Green. SB–Baldwin; Ka‘aua. CS—Baldwin.

WP–Von Ruden 2; Valencia; Warren. HBP—by West (Ramirez); by Friesen (Freitas). PB–Nearhoof.
Umpires—(Plate): John Matson (First): Bob Simmons. (Third): Ron Guthier. T—3:05. A—638.