IRVINE, Calif. – Concordia (Calif.) first baseman Bailey Collins crushed Hawai'i Pacific University's chance of breaking a mainland losing streak when he belted a two-out, three-run ninth inning homerun to lead CUI to a 6-5 over the Sharks on Monday afternoon at Eagles Field.
 
The Sharks (14-20, 4-18) extended their mainland drought to 12 games. The Eagles (17-15, 14-6) extended their winning streak to six games with the four-game sweep of HPU.
 
HPU retired the first two CUI batters in the ninth when a walk, two errors and a wild pitch gave CUI one run. Collins bashed HPU senior reliever Zachary Smith's 0-2 fastball over the fence in right center for the win. It was the only time in the game the Eagles held a lead.
 
The loss spoiled a fine start by Shark senior lefthander Matthew Gunter of Orangevale, Calif./Bella Vista. Gunter struck out 10 Eagles in eight innings of work, allowing two runs on six hits with two walks.
 
The Sharks had taken the lead in the eighth inning, snapping a 2-all tie as they loaded the bases for junior second baseman Froy Smith of Kaneohe, Hawai'i/Castle to send a sacrifice fly to score junior catcher Kreston Woods of Tempe, Ariz./DeNiza.
 
In the top of the ninth, HPU extended the lead when junior first baseman Wyatt Hoppie of Orange, Calif./Villa Park drove a two-RBI double to centerfield for a 5-2 lead.
 
Woods was 2-for-4 on the day with a double and a run scored. Sophomore centerfielder Tanner Tokunaga was 2-for-5 with a run scored.
 
HPU broke a scoreless tie in the fifth inning when Matthew Tsutomi drew a one-out walk. Smith grounded to short, but Haloa Dudoit threw the ball into the outfield and Tsutomi scampered home on an error and Smith wound up on third. Mitchell Bumann followed with an RBI single up the middle for a 2-0 lead.
 
The Eagles answered with an RBI single from Ryan Land in the bottom of the fifth and tied the game when Collins added an RBI single in the sixth.
 
HPU opened the eighth with a double by Woods, who advanced to third on a groundout. CUI intentionally walked pinch hitter Codi Santana and Tustomi beat out a bunt to load the bases for Smith's sac fly.
 
Tanner Tokunaga led off with a single in the ninth and Austin Inabata reached on an error to create the two RBI opportunity for Hoppie.
 
The road doesn't get easier for the Sharks, as they visit No. 2 Azusa Pacific for a four-game series starting Thursday at noon HST (3 p.m. PDT).