Softball | 2/17/2018 1:53:00 AM

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 KANEOHE, Hawai'i —Hawai'i Pacific University split a doubleheader with Josai Univerity of Japan on Friday afternoon at Howard Okita Field to close a four-game exhibition series.
 
The Sharks fell to Josai 7-0 in game one and grabbed a game two win 5-3.
 
Josai out hit the Sharks in both contests with nine in game one and 10 in game two.
 
Josai started out strong in the first inning of game one with four hits, and an HPU fielding error, but the Sharks closed the first with a ground to double play from third baseman Mary Dungey to catcher Taylor Okamura and then to first baseman Noelani Boyer. The next inning would see another HPU error on top of Joasi's three stolen bases to give them a 5-0 lead after two. The final two runs for Josai came in the 4th with a double from Atsuni Kimura followed by a base hit from Harumi Sonabe who advanced to 3rd on the attempt home. Sonabe was brought in by a sacrifice fly to give the final score of 7-0,
 
Junior Jordan Curry of Farmington N.M./Farmington, started for the Sharks going four innings allowing seven runs (six earned) with eight hits, a walk and two strikeouts, with senior Gabriella Nowack of San Jose, Calif./Silver Creek, going three innings allowing just one hit and a walk while snagging two of her own strikeouts.
 
Josai's Minami Matsuzaki threw four innings giving up four hits and two walks with a strikeout. Miki Endo found two innings of play giving up just one walk and tallying a strikeout while closer Tomomi Yuzawa closed her one inning in just 10 pitches.
 
The Sharks answered with with a 5-3 in game two win to close the afternoon.
 
After allowing three runs in the opening frame off of a Shark fielding error, HPU scored two of its own with the towering two-run homer to left center from senior Noelani Boyer of Carson, Calif./Banning bringing home freshman Cieana Curran. In the top of the 2nd, sophomore Sierra Dias shut down Josai's triple to right center with an unassisted double play at third later in the inning. Josai wouldn't hit the board again in the game.
 
The Sharks plated the winning runs in the second. Senior Sienna Santiago started things off with a single followed by junior Tiana Cantero-Kawelon running out a bunt. Wolfe walked and Cantero-Kawelo brought home Curran with the go-ahead tally. Sierra Dias with a two RBI single up the middle making it 5-3.
 
The Sharks were led by freshman Cieana Curran who hit 2-3 with an RBI and three stolen bases.
 
Junior Alexis Morales of San Diego, Calif./Mater Dei Catholic, pitched all seven for the exhibition win, allowing ten hits, three runs (one earned), two walks and grabbing two strikeouts in the process.
 
Chinaho Kameyama pitched two innings for Josai allowing five runs (all earned), off of five hits with three walks for the loss. Rika Karasawa would finish the game for Josai allowing three hits and a walk while recording two strikeouts.
 
HPU officially opens the season on Saturday at Howard Okita Field with a non-conference doubleheader against Central Washington. First pitch is scheduled for noon.