Feb. 25, 2018
 
BIOLA SWEEPS SHARKS IN HPU PACWEST OPENER
 
KANEOHE, Hawai'i — Hawai'i Pacific University opened PacWest Conference play by dropping both ends of a doubleheader to conference newcomer Biola on Thursday afternoon at Howard Okita Field.
 
The Sharks (3-3, 0-2) fell 4-0 in the first game and saw the Eagles (17-3, 6-0) come from behind to win 5-1 in nine innings in the second contest.
 
In game one, Biola took advantage of two HPU errors to plate two runs in the third inning and added two more runs in the fifth by stringing together four hits.
 
Junior righthander Jordan Curry of Farmington, N.M./Farmington (1-1) picked up her first loss of the season and pitched all seven innings allowing four runs (two earned) off of six hits with two walks and four strikeouts.
 
Biola's Terri Van Dagens (6-0) picked up with win after pitching the first four innings allowing just three hits with a walk. She also picked up one strikeout in the contest. Paige Austin came in relief for the final three innings allowing one hit with four strikeouts in snagging her third save of the season.
 
Game two was a battle of the pitcher as Biola was held to just one hit through six innings and the Sharks managed four hits through five.
 
In the bottom of the sixth, the Sharks broke through for the lead when junior Mary Dungey was hit by a pitch to get on base with sophomore Miki Takara taking over to run the diamond. Takara advanced to second, and then was brought home by junior Tiana Cantero-Kawelo's RBI single to left field.
 
The Eagles answered in the seventh with three hits including an RBI double by Ruth Munoz to right field brining in the tying run for leaving the bases loaded.
 
The Sharks had an opportunity to score with a triple to center field from sophomore pitcher Emilee Leonard with two outs to go 3-for-4 at the plate, but left her stranded to send the game to extra innings.
 
HPU held the Eagles scoreless in the eighth and saw another great scoring opportunity as freshman Ashley Iseri singled down the first base line followed by Cantero-Kawelo with another single and both advanced a Biola fielding error. With runners on second and third, a bloop by Kiana Wolfe that dropped in fair territory and rolled into foul ground appeared to score the game-winning run. But after the umpires got together, the play was ruled foul and BU's Austin got Wolfe and Sienna Santiago to strike out after extended at-bats to escape the jam and send the game to the ninth.
 
Biola made use of the second extra inning to get to Sharks hurler Leonard. A walk and a ground out led to Kayla Neff driving in the go-ahead run, but the Eagles weren't finished yet. With two more singles to load the bases, Boyett smashed a three RBI double to center field giving the Eagles a 5-1 advantage.
 
As darkness set in, HPU put two on in the bottom of the ninth, but left them stranded as Biola chalk up the win.
 
Leonard, the sophomore of La Mirada, Calif./Saint Paul, pitched all nine innings for the Sharks and was roughed up late for ten hits, with five runs and five walks and grabbed six strikeouts in the process. She picked up her first loss of the season (1-1).
 
Austin (8-1) pitched the last four innings for Biola, allowing one run off of six hits while striking out six for the win. Van Dagens got the start and went one inning allowing two hits with a strikeout. Paula Damas worked four innings for the Eagles allowing two hits and a walk while notching two strikeouts.
 
HPU is back in action Monday afternoon against Azusa Pacific in a PacWest doubleheader. The first pitch is at 1 p.m. at Howard Okita Field.