WAIPAHU, Hawai'i -- Hawai'i Pacific University got home runs from Christian Kapeliela and Ryan Torres-Torioka as the Sharks blasted Minnesota Crookston 9-2 to open the 2018 season on Friday night at Hans L'Orange Park.
 
The Sharks (1-0) used a five-run sixth inning to pull away from the Eagles (0-1) who also played their season opener.
 
"I thought we played pretty well for a season opener," said HPU Coach Garett Yukumoto. "I was pleased with Tyler Van Stone's start and pleased with the way we hit the ball.  It's a great way to start the season."
 
Senior first baseman Christian Kapeliela of Kaneohe, Hawai'i/Castle scored the Sharks first run of the year when he crushed a towering shot to left center to tie the game, and senior rightfielder Ryan Torres-Torioka belted a three-run homer to left in the five-run six inning to put the game away.
 
Junior righthander Tyler Van Stone of Henderson, Nev./Foothill, got the win in his first start of the season. Van Stone went five innings with five strikeouts, while allowing two runs – one earned – and six hits with a walk. Senior Evan-Thomas May of Buena Park, Calif./Oxford Academy went two innings with four strikeouts while giving up a hit. Senior Billy Clemens of Tempe, Ariz./Corona Del Sol struck out two in working the final two innings.
 
Tied at 1-1 in the fourth inning, the Sharks grabbed the lead with an RBI single from senior catcher Kreston Woods of Tempe, Ariz./DeNiza and a two RBI single from sophomore shortstop Matthew Tsutomi of Pearl City, Hawai'i/Pearl City for a 4-1 lead.
 
After UMC added a run in the fifth, HPU came back in the sixth with senior Codi Santana of Oxnard, Calif./Saint Bonaventure HS, capitalizing on being hit by a pitch by coming home on a passed ball and throwing error before Woods and Tsutomi singled to set up Torioka's blast. Junior Tanner Tokunaga of Pearl City, Hawai'i/Pearl City picked up a single, part of his 3-for-5 opener, and scored on when senior first baseman Wyatt Hoppie of Orange, Calif./Villa Park, hit a liner through the legs of UMC third baseman Jonathan Lund.
 
Parker Hanson (0-1) took the loss for the Eagles, going four innings with two strikeouts and allowing four runs, all earned.
 
HPU and Minnesota Crookston play again on Saturday in a doubleheader starting at 2 p.m. at Hans L'Orange Park.