Kurokawa Closes Out College Career With PWC Weekly Award

University of Hawai’i at Hilo pitcher Jordan Kurokawa. UH-Hilo photo.

University of Hawai’i at Hilo senior Jordan Kurokawa saved one of his best pitching performances of the season for his final start on Saturday against Hawai’i Pacific University.

Kurokawa struck out nine, walked a batter, and allowed a hit in a complete game effort as UH-Hilo defeated HPU 3-0. His performance earned him the PacWest Conference’s Co-Pitcher of the Week Award for games played between April 25 and May 1.

Despite allowing two baserunners, Kurokawa faced the minimum 27 batters in the game. Keola Himan was thrown out at second base trying to extend a single, and Tyler Tokunaga was caught trying to steal second base after reaching on a walk.

Kurokawa, a Maryknoll High School graduate, retired the last 13 batters he faced.

This is Kurokawa’s second PacWest Pitcher of the Week award of the season. His first one came days after shutting out the University of Hawai’i in a two-hit, complete game victory on Feb. 13.

California Baptist University’s Brody Robinson shared the conference’s Pitcher of the Week award with Kurokawa. Azusa Pacific University freshman Justin Gomez was named PacWest Player of the Week, and Dixie State catcher Reece Lucero earned the PacWest Newcomer of the Week honor.

UH-Hilo’s baseball team finished the season with a 9-33 record and 7-27 PacWest Conference mark. Kurokawa went 3-5 in 10 starts with a 2.96 earned run average. He tossed three complete games.