WAIPAHU, Hawai'i -- Hawai'I Pacific University scored three runs in the bottom of the first inning and never looked back as the Sharks defeated Fresno Pacific 7-2 in PacWest Conference baseball action Thursday night at Hans L'Orange Park.
 
The Sharks (15-24, 5-22) snapped an eight-game losing streak with the series opening victory. The Sunbirds (13-17, 10-11) fell for the third time in five games in Hawai'i.
 
HPU got a complete game from sophomore righthander Tyler Van Stone of Henderson, Nev./Foothills who struck out nine while allowing two hits on five runs with three walks.
 
Junior first baseman Wyatt Hoppie of Orange, Calif./Villa Park led the offensive attack for the Sharks going 3-for-4, with his third home run of the season and second triple of the year along with a single. Junior third baseman Ryan Torres-Torioka of Holualoa, Hawai'i/Konawaena was 3-for-5 with three RBI and his third triple of the season for the Sharks as well.
 
The Sharks got started on the right foot scoring three times in the first inning. Sophomore centerfielder Tanner Tokunaga of Pearl City, Hawai'i/Pearl City led off for HPU in the first with a double and Torres-Torioka followed with an RBI triple. Junior designated hitter Codi Santana of Oxnard, Calif./St. Bonaventure HS was next with an RBI single to centerfield, with Hoppie singling on the first pitch he saw. Sophomore leftfielder Jordan Mopas of Ewa Beach, Hawai'i/St. Louis walked to load the bases before senior catcher Robert Fram of Kaneohe, Hawai'i/Castle grounded into an RBI fielder's choice to plate Santana for the 3-0 lead.
 
FPU got a run in the fourth without a hit, after loading the bases on a walk, hit batsman and walk before Hunter Villanueva got a sacrifice fly to centerfield to score Eddie Sievers. FPU reloaded the bases before Van Stone got the next two outs to end the threat.
 
The Sharks answered in the bottom of the fourth as Tokunaga drew a two-out walk, then stole second. Torres-Torioka smashed a high chopper that brushed over the glove of a leaping FPU second baseman McKay France to allow Tokunaga to score.
 
The Sunbirds added their second run in the fifth as Michael Warkentin doubled to left center, followed by an RBI double down the leftfield line.
 
HPU got it back in the bottom of the inning as Hoppie belted a 1-2 offering from FPU starter Trent Ashford into the trees beyond the leftfield fence to make it 5-2.
 
The Sharks added runs in the sixth and seventh frames. Redshirt freshman shortstop Matthew Tsutomi of Pearl City, Hawai'i/Pearl City doubled ahead of Torres-Torioka's RBI single in the sixth. Hoppie then tripled to lead off the seventh and Fram tallied his second RBI with a single to right.
 
The two teams play game two of a four-game series Friday night at 6 p.m. at Hans L'Orange Park.