Box Score WAIPAHU, Hawaii (February 12, 2016) – In need of some late-inning relief, the Hawaii Pacific baseball team called on hard-throwing Brandon Bonilla, who notched the four-out save, stranded five runners on base and helped his squad defeat Saint Leo (Fla.) University 7-6 at Hans L'Orange Park.
 
The Sharks (2-0) jumped out to a quick start, scoring four runs in the first inning and forcing opposing starter Andrew Cohen (0-1) to throw 27 pitches in the frame. HPU left fielder Austin Inabata paced the offensive outburst, going 2-for-4 with a double and 3 RBI, while teammates Steven Camberos and Bronson Aiwohi had two hits and a RBI apiece.
 
Senior reliever Cody Ells (1-0) came on to throw 3 1/3 innings, surrendering two hits without allowing a run before eventually earning the victory.
 
Bonilla then closed the door by getting out of a bases-loaded jam in the eighth and working around a one-out walk and two-out infield single in the ninth frame.
 
The Lions (3-2) were led at the dish by Derek Gibree, who tripled and drove in three runs.
 
HPU starter Ethan Kalin could not overcome his inconsistency on the mound and exited after allowing five earned runs, eight hits and four walks over 4 1/3 innings. Kalin posted a 3.09 ERA last season across 11 appearances, including four starts. As a junior, the southpaw went 4-1 with 19 strikeouts through 35 innings.
 
Bonilla, the son of former Major League slugger Bobby Bonilla, joined the Sharks after spending time at both Arizona State and Grand Canyon Universities. The hard-throwing relief option who can let it fly at 97 mph also boasts a biting slider that darts in toward right-handed hitters.
 
Bonilla was selected in the 37^th round of the MLB First-Year Player Draft in 2011 after his time at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., by the Colorado Rockies. He was then picked in 2014 in the 25^th round of the MLB June Amateur Draft by the Baltimore Orioles, but chose instead to focus on earning his college degree; he's currently a graduate student at HPU.
 
The Sharks are aiming to improve on their 27-20 record last year, which included a 17-15 mark in conference play. HPU was picked to finish seventh in a very competitive 10-team PacWest Conference via a preseason vote by league coaches.
 
Under the guidance of 11^th-year skipper Garett Yukumoto, who is the program's winningest coach with a 291-196-1 mark, the Sharks are following the pace set by 13 seniors on the roster, including ace pitcher Rico Garcia.
 
HPU returns to Hans L'Orange Park on Saturday for a doubleheader at 2 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. for the third-and-fourth games of the five-game set.