Box Score WAIPAHU, Hawaii (March 24, 2016) – The Hawaii Pacific baseball team notched a 2-1 victory over 10^th-ranked and West Region-leading California Baptist University and secured a split of a crucial four-game PacWest Conference series at Hans L'Orange Park.
 
The Sharks (17-9, 9-7 PacWest), currently the sixth-ranked team in the West Region, leaned on starter Matthew Gunter (2-1) as the southpaw scattered two hits and issued two walks without allowing a run over 6 1/3 innings.
 
Brandon Bonilla, the team's senior closer, held the Lancers scoreless over the final 1 1/3 innings and left the bases loaded in the eighth inning before nailing down his seventh save of the season. The hard-throwing lefty has allowed one unearned run in 11 1/3 innings this season, through which he has struck out 16.
 
Jordan Mopas doubled down the line in left in the second inning to drive in HPU's first run, and the Sharks tacked on an insurance run in the sixth frame via Tyler Tokunaga's sacrifice fly.
 
The Lancers (23-7, 13-3) posted five hits but left nine runners on base. Travis Booth (2-3) took the loss after surrendering both runs in 5 1/3 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 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 this season in a very competitive 10-team PacWest Conference via a preseason vote by league coaches. The team is guided by 11^th-year skipper Garett Yukumoto, who is the program's winningest coach at 306-205-1.  
 
HPU hits the road for an eight-game Northern California road swing to face Holy Names and Academy of Art March 28 through April 2 in four doubleheaders.