Box Score WAIPAHU, Hawaii (February 19, 2016) – Behind eight scoreless innings from ace hurler
Rico Garcia, the Hawaii Pacific baseball team defeated Felician (N.J.) University 6-2 to begin a five-game set at Hans L'Orange Park.
Garcia (2-0) scattered five hits and struck out nine, and has now allowed a lone earned run over 16 innings in 2016.
The Sharks (6-0) received a solo home run from catcher
Steven Camberos in the third frame as the backstop posted his second dinger of the season. Camberos drove in two runs on the night via two hits, while teammate
Keola Himan went 3-for-4 with two stolen bases and notched two doubles.
Reid Akau also went 3-for-4 with a double.
HPU chased Felician starter John Holland (0-1), who surrendered three runs on six hits through four innings.
The Golden Falcons (0-1) received two hits apiece from Josh Shimp, Matt Diesel and Jason Polgano.
Garcia, a prep standout at Saint Louis School, was named to the National Collegiate Baseball Writers of America Preseason All-West Region First Team and earned a spot on the Preseason All-PacWest Team. He led the Sharks with a 6-4 record last season and a 2.18 ERA through 10 starts, including four complete games. The Kapolei native also paced HPU in 2015 with a school-record 87 strikeouts over 74 1/3 innings pitched, while opposing batters hit just .186 against him.
Garcia was named to the All-PacWest First Team in 2015 and was also honored as HPU's Male Athlete of the Year.
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 295-196-1 mark, the Sharks are following the pace set by 13 seniors on the roster, including Garcia.
HPU returns to Hans L'Orange Park on Saturday, Feb. 20 for a doubleheader (2/5:30 p.m.) and Sunday, Feb. 21 (noon/3:30 p.m.) to round out the series.
