St. George, UT (March 27, 2012) – In a key PacWest baseball matchup, Hawai'i Pacific (18-8, 10-6) and Dixie State (21-9, 17-7) each won half of today's doubleheader in Utah. HPU used six extra-base hits to win 7-5 in game one but dropped game two 6-2.

HPU raced out to a 6-0 lead after three innings, and then minimized the Dixie State damage though the middle innings to hold on for the win. Michael Murray got the win, now 5-1, after pitching seven innings and allowing five runs. Edward Trovato pitched the final two shutout innings to record his fifth save. The hard throwing closer struck out four batters in his appearance.

HPU started the scoring in the second inning on back-to-back RBI singles from Wade Tamaru and Derek Nakasato. Blake Amaral homered to lead off the third inning, later in the frame, Troy Ajer had an RBI double and then Wade Tamaru plated two on his two base hit. The six run advantage is all that HPU would need, but the Sea Warriors tacked on another run in the sixth on an Easton Torigoe RBI.

Amaral flexed his muscles with two doubles and a home run in the contest, the Hilo native now leads (or is tied for) the team in doubles, triples, home runs and RBI.  Nakasato and Ajer also had three hit games as Tamaru and Torigoe had two.

In game two, HPU couldn't get the big hit, stranding seven base runners. HPU trailed from the outset, 2-0, before trimming the lead to one after a sacrifice fly from Justin Winters in the second inning. However, the Red Storm would score four more times in the second and third innings to lead 6-1. HPU would get a run in the seventh inning but it would not be enough.

Bryson Gauthe got the start and gave up four earned runs in six innings. Nakasato and Max Newman each had two hits to pace the offense.

HPU will play Grand Canyon University on Friday in a doubleheader in Phoenix at 4 PM.