Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 WAIPAHU, Hawaii (March 7, 2016) – The Hawaii Pacific baseball team split a double dip with visiting Point Loma Nazarene University, dropping the opener 5-2 and claiming the return matchup 10-4, to begin a four-game PacWest Conference series at Hans L'Orange Park.
 
With the win, HPU – the sixth-ranked team in the West Region – ended the Sea Lions' 12-game winning streak in the highly-anticipated joust with Point Loma, the region's ninth-ranked squad.
 
The Sharks (12-4, 4-2 PacWest) were led in the second game by Steven Camberos and Bronson Aiwohi, who collected three hits apiece, drove in two runs each and combined for three doubles and a triple. Austin Inabata, Nolan Barraza and William Leskovec also drove in two runs apiece for HPU, which racked up 13 hits.
 
HPU starter Ethan Kalin (2-0) picked up the victory despite issuing eight walks as the southpaw gave up a lone earned run through 5 2/3 innings.
 
The Sea Lions (12-4, 1-1) claimed the first game as heralded starter Kellen Sheppard (4-1) tossed seven scoreless innings while allowing two hits and striking out four. PLNU's Ryan Garcia posted two hits, while Camberos paced HPU with two hits including a double.
 
HPU hurler Rico Garcia (3-1) was saddled with his first loss of the season after surrendering three runs on six hits through five innings. Kyle Detwiler was effective in relief and held the scrappy Sea Lions offense to a run on two hits over the final four frames.
 
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. The team is guided by 11^th-year skipper Garett Yukumoto, who is the program's winningest coach at 301-200-1.  
 
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.
 
HPU returns to Hans L'Orange Park on Tuesday, March 8 (4/7:30 p.m.) for a doubleheader to conclude the four-game series with Point Loma.