KANEOHE, Hawai'i — Hawai'i Pacific University got a two-run home run from freshman Emiliee Leonard to beat No. 13 Dixie State in game two to split a PacWest Conference doubleheader Sunday afternoon at Howard Okita Field.
 
The Sharks (12-8, 5-5) dropped game one 5-2 to the second place Trailblazers (26-7, 12-4).
 
"I'm proud of the way we played today," said HPU coach Brian Nakasone. "We kept playing hard and got our chance. Then defensively we stepped up to make the plays when we needed it."
 
The Sharks made strong defensive stands in the sixth and seventh innings of the second game to hang onto the victory and give sophomore Jordan Curry of Farmington, N.M. (3-3) her third win in the circle this season.
 
Leonard, the freshman from LaMirada, Calif./St. Paul, was the offensive star of the twinbill, going 3-for-6 with the homer and 3 RBIs.
 
The Sharks are back in action on Tuesday afternoon at Howard Okita Field when they host PacWest leader California Baptist. The doubleheader starts at 1 p.m.
 
Game One
 
The Sharks scored the game's first two runs, but Dixie State came back with five more to beat HPU 5-2.
 
In the bottom of the third, HPU took advantage of a throwing error to get the leadoff batters on base, after being sacrificed to second and third, designated hitter Dominique Walker followed with a two RBI single down the line just out of the reach of the third baseman to score Sienna Santiago and Mari Kajiwara.
 
Dixie State collected its first run in the fourth on a throwing error during a rundown that allowed Bailey Gaffin to score.
 
In the fifth, Dixie State got two walks to set up a two RBI double by Gaffin that gave the Trailblazers a 3-2 lead.
 
The Trailblazers salted the game away in the sixth after a leadoff double by Jessica Gonzalez, Arista Honey grounded to relief pitcher Alexa McCoin. But McCoin tried to get a running Gonzalez and overthrew third allowing Gonzalez to score and Honey to second. DSU pinch ran Riley Tyteca for Honey, and quickly stole third. Tyteca came home on a sacrifice fly to go up 5-2.
 
Leonard (4-2) got her second loss after allowing five hits and four runs (two earned) in five innings. DSU ace Brooklyn Beardshear (12-2) got the win allowing five hits and two unearned runs and struck out three.
 
Game Two
HPU fought from behind until claiming lead on Leonard's home run.
 
Dixie turned a leadoff walk into a run on an RBI single by Gaffin in the first, then allowed a second run in the second following a walk with an RBI single by Janessa Bassett. But that would be all the runs for the Trailblazers.
 
The Sharks scratched out a run in the third when centerfielder Kiara Wolfe was hit by a pitch from DSU's Alexis Barkwell and went to second on a shallow popup by Santiago that was dropped by Trailblazer left fielder Shelby Yung. After being sacrificed to third, Wolfe scored on Leonard's RBI single to centerfield. However, HPU stranded two.
 
Dixie threatened in their fifth, as a throwing error allowed Gonzalez to reach. The Trailblazers pinch run Taylor Godfrey who advanced to second on a sacrifice. But on Dani Bartholf's single to left, Leonard slightly bobbled the pickup and Godfrey tried to score. Leonard threw her out at home.
 
Then in HPU's fifth, Sierra Dias drew a two-out walk to bring up Leonard. Emiliee took a strike and fouled off a pitch before Barkwell grooved one that Leonard deposited in the pine trees beyond the left field fence for a 3-2 lead.
 
Dixie threatened again in the sixth, when Josey Hartman was hit by a pitch and went to second on a passed ball before Bassett singled off pitcher Jordan Curry to put runners at the corners. The Trailblazers attempted a double steal, but the Sharks were ready as Carolann Toyama's throw went to second baseman Mari Kajiwara playing up. Kajiwara sent the throw back to Toyama who tagged Hartman on the caught stealing.
 
Then in the seventh, Dixie got singles from Gaffin and Mallory Paulson with one out. But a lineout and groundout that forced Paulson at second ended the game.
 
Curry evened her record to 3-3 in the circle with the win, with the complete game as she allowed nine hits and two runs.
 
Barkwell (4-1) suffered her first loss, allowing three runs (two earned) on three hits and struck out three.