WAIPAHU, Hawai'i — Hawai'i Pacific University used a seven run fourth inning to take control of the game and defeat Holy Names 8-2 in PacWest Conference baseball action Monday night at Hans L'Orange Park.
 
The Sharks (14-16, 4-14) broke open a scoreless game with the seven run outburst against the Hawks (6-23, 3-13).
 
"We had a good game tonight and grinded it out," said HPU head coach Garett Yukumoto. "Give props to Gunter. He had a pretty good outing as well."
 
Senior lefthander Matthew Gunter of Orangevale, Calif./Bella Vista (4-3) struck out 12 as he picked up the win allowing just three hits and two runs in seven innings.
 
Junior second baseman Froy Smith of Kaneohe, Hawai'i/Castle had a hot bat going 2-for-3 with two RBI and a run scored, while senior rightfielder Austin Inabata of Kapolei, Hawai'i/Moanalua had two RBIs in going 1-for-3.
 
The game seemed to be an old fashioned pitching duel, as Gunter allowed one hit through four innings and HNU starter Gunnar David had not allowed a hit in three innings.
 
In the fourth, David lost the no-hitter and the game.
 
Sophomore centerfielder Tanner Tokunaga led off the inning with a single, followed by an error that allowed Ryan Torres-Torioka to reach. HPU sacrificed the pair to second and third before a walk to designated hitter Codi Santana loaded the bases. Jordan Mopas grounded into a fielder's choice to short, but HNU's Alex Denobriga's throw to third was beaten by Torioka as Tokunaga scored. Keola Himan came up and was hit by a David pitch to bring home Torioka for a 2-0 lead.
 
Still with no one out, Mitchell Bumann and Smith both picked up RBI singles, with Inabata smacking a 2-RBI single down the rightfield line. Tokunaga laid down a sacrifice to plate Smith and give HPU a 7-0 lead. However the rally ended when Inabata was picked off to end the inning.
 
The Hawks did get on the scoreboard in the fifth on a 2-RBI single by Chris Gnos, but stranded two runners as Gunter got a strikeout to end the frame.
 
HPU added an insurance run in the sixth as Smith picked up an RBI single to plate Mopas who had opened the inning with a leadoff walk.
 
Gunter posted at least one strikeout in each of the seven innings he pitched on his way to a dozen K's as he used 122 pitches during his outing.
 
Junior Billy Clemens allowed two hits in a scoreless eighth inning and senior Zachary Smith posted two strikeouts in a 1-2-3 ninth inning to seal the win.
 
The Sharks travel to California this weekend, opening a four-game series with Concordia-Irvine with a doubleheader on Saturday starting at 9 a.m. HST (Noon PDT).