Former Konawaena High School baseball standout Kolten Yamaguchi achieved a collegiate career moment Tuesday night, homering twice for Pepperdine in a 9-4 victory at USC.
Yamaguchi started and hit in the eighth spot in the order. His first home run came in the sixth inning when his two-run shot broke a 3-3 tie and ignited a five-run Waves inning. He returned to the plate in the following inning and smacked a 2-1 pitch over the right-center field fence for a solo home run.
On the evening, Yamaguchi batted 2-for-5.
The home runs came on his first start of the season and were his first career home runs in a college game.
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In his freshman campaign last year, Yamaguchi batted .310 in 14 games with three runs batted in. This year, he is 2-for-8 (.250) at the plate.
Yamaguchi is one of two Hawai`i born athletes playing baseball for the Waves. Mid-Pacific Institute graduate Ivan Dilda is in his freshman season under head coach Steve Rodriguez. The left-handed pitcher has pitched three innings in two relief appearances and has not allowed an earned run.
Pepperdine opens West Coast Conference play on Friday against Loyola Marymount.
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