Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 FRESNO, Calif. (April 19, 2016) – The Hawaii Pacific baseball team split a road doubleheader with Fresno Pacific University, falling 7-6 in the opener and claiming the return matchup 10-4, to conclude a four-game PacWest Conference series.
 
The Sharks (27-15, 17-13 PacWest) received two hits and two RBI apiece from Tyler Tokunaga and Christian Kapeliela, while Tanner Tokunaga scored three runs and stole a base in the opener. In the second matchup, Nolan Barraza picked up two RBI, while catcher William Leskovec collected three hits.
 
HPU reliever Brandon Bonilla came on to finish the first game after starter Matthew Gunter and Tyler Van Stone (2-2) combined to allow seven runs on seven hits and three walks. While it was not a save situation, Bonilla notched a strikeout over 1 2/3 innings and kept the Fresno lead to just one.
 
Bonilla continued to fill the "Iron Man" role for HPU and returned to the mound just a few hours later in Game 2 where he tossed 2 2/3 innings of effective relief and struck out five. The lefty has now struck out 31 over 23 innings and owns a miniscule 0.39 ERA.
 
Ethan Kalin (3-2) came on to pitch the eighth and ninth innings to salvage the win in the finale after the HPU offense exploded for six runs in the final frame. Sharks starter Brandon Van Stone did not factor in the decision after allowing two runs on seven hits through 4 1/3 innings.
 
The Sunbirds (20-21, 15-12) were led offensively by Preston Scott, who had five hits and three RBI over both games.
 
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 316-211-1.  
 
HPU will remain on the road to finish the season with a pair of four-game series at Dixie State and UH Hilo.