Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 WAIPAHU, Hawaii (February 26, 2016) – Behind another strong start from ace Rico Garcia, the Hawaii Pacific baseball team split a doubleheader with Concordia University Irvine, winning 5-3 in the opener and dropping the return matchup 7-5, to begin a four-game series at Hans L'Orange Park.
 
The Sharks (9-3, 1-1 PacWest) leaned on Garcia (3-0) who picked up a third consecutive win to start the young season after striking out six through seven innings and allowing three runs in the first game. Garcia received some crucial support via Austin Inabata's two-run, go-ahead home run in the sixth frame to break a 3-3 stalemate.
 
Catcher Steven Camberos also drove in two runs for HPU, while Keola Himan chipped in two hits for the home team. The Sharks battered Concordia starter Isaiah Terrazas (1-1), who allowed five runs on 10 hits in six innings.
 
Closer Brandon Bonilla came on to retire the visitors in the ninth frame of the opener despite walking two batters in the inning. The lefty shook off the shaky start and earned his fourth save of the season after striking out two hitters. The senior has now struck out 11 hitters through 6 1/3 innings.
 
The Eagles (5-9, 1-1) took the second game after taking advantage of two unearned runs allowed by HPU that proved to be the difference. The Sharks also failed to execute on three sacrifice bunt opportunities and ended up stranding nine runners on base.
 
Tyler Tokunaga and Tre Halliburton-Goeas each collected two hits for the home team, while Cody Ells (1-2) took the loss after allowing the two go-ahead runs across the seventh and eighth innings.
 
Concordia's Chad Whiteaker went 3-for-5 and was a home run shy of hitting for the cycle in the second game.
 
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. Earlier this season, he set the program's record for career innings pitched.
 
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 via 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 from 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 298-199-1 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. 27 (2 p.m./5:30 p.m.) for a PacWest doubleheader against Concordia (Irvine, Calif.) University.