KANEOHE, Hawai'i —Hawai'i Pacific University opened the 2017 softball on a sour note as Western Washington swept the Sharks 4-1 and 3-2 Saturday afternoon at Howard Okita Field on HPU's Hawai'i Loa campus.
 
The Sharks (0-2) struggled to convert key opportunities in both games, as the Vikings (2-0) took advantage of almost every opportunity
 
"The ball really just didn't bounce are way today," said HPU head coach Bryan Nakasone. "It was a very frustrating day because we had our chances."
 
Senior infielder Mari Kajiwara of Mililani, Hawai'i/Mililani had the top day offensively for the Sharks. Kajiwara went 3-for-6 with a triple and two RBIs over the two games.
 
HPU will be in action again next Saturday, Feb. 11, when they host Canada's Simon Fraser University for a doubleheader starting at noon at Howard Okita Field.
 
Game One
 
Western Washington broke a 1-1 tie in the top of the third with a two-run homer by first baseman Emily Benson and added an insurance run in the seventh to beat the Sharks 4-1 in the season opener.
 
HPU matched an early Viking run when Kajiwara singled to left in the bottom of the second inning to drive in junior outfielder Kiana Wolfe of Redding, Calif./Enterprise, who had singled and stolen second earlier in the inning.
 
After the homerun in the third the HPU defense held off the WWU attack until the seventh when Vikings strung together three singles to post a 4-1 advantage.
 
Western's Makinlee Sellevold got the win in the circle, going all seven innings giving up four hits and striking out four.
 
Sharks sophomore righthander Alexis Morales of San Diego, Calif./Mater Dei Catholic was pegged for the loss, allowing nine hits with all four runs earned with a strikeout.
 
Game Two
 
The Sharks suffered a pair of errors that led to two runs as Western Washington claimed game two 3-2.
 
The Vikings got a pair of singles in the second inning for their first run and a fielding error by HPU sophomore pitcher Jordan Curry of Farmington, N.M./Farmington set up a run scoring single later in the inning.
 
HPU answered with a run in the fourth, taking advantage of a dropped popup by the Vikings to setup a sacrifice fly by senior outfielder Nicole Viena of Corona, Calif./Santiago, who drove in junior outfielder Sienna Santiago of Eleele, Hawai'i/Waimea to make it 2-1.
 
The error bug struck again in the sixth, when WWU pitcher Shearyna Labasan beat out a throw after a bobbled scoop with runners on second and third with two out that allowed Kali Patterson to cross with what would be the winning run.
 
The Sharks got back on the scoreboard when Kajiwara tripled to right center in the bottom of the sixth, scoring pinch runner Kristy Washizaki to make it 3-2. However Kajiwara was stranded on third to end the threat.
 
HPU stranded seven runners in the seven innings.
 
Curry took her first loss of the season, going the distance and allowing seven hits, one earned run and striking out three. Labasan gained the win, allowing six hits and striking out one.