WAIPAHU, Hawai'i – An RBI infield single crowned a comeback for Hawai'i Pacific University as the Sharks defeated No. 10 California Baptist 4-3 in PacWest Conference action Monday night at Hans L'Orange Park.
 
The Sharks (11-9, 5-7) scored single runs in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings to overcome the 10th ranked Lancers (13-5, 6-2) 2-1 lead after the top of the fifth. It was the first time CBU has lost consecutive games this season and knocked the Lancers out of the PacWest lead.
 
The game was scoreless until the fourth inning, with only one hit in the game, until CBU got two singles to lead off the inning and converted them into the first runs on a two RBI double down the left field line by Ryan Mota.
 
HPU answered in the bottom of the fourth when Hoppie singled, advanced on a fielder's choice and scored on a throwing error when CBU tried to get an out at second to cut the CBU advantage to 2-1.
 
The Lancers added the third run in the sixth when Mota collected his third RBI of the night on a home run that just cleared the left field fence.
 
That's when HPU chipped back, adding a run in the sixth when sophomore Matthew Tsutomi of Pearl City, Hawai 'i/Pearl City, drew his second walk of the game. He advanced to second on a passed ball and scored on Hoppie's RBI single up the middle.
 
In the seventh, the Sharks tied the game by loading the bases on three consecutive walks with two out. The first chased Lancer starter Logan Rinehart, and relievers Matt Amrhein and Jorge Valerio each walked a batter. The third reliever of the inning, Brody Robinson, delivered a 2-2 fastball that senior pinch hitter Froy Smith of Kaneohe, Hawai'i/Castle, singled into left field. Junior centerfielder Tanner Tokunaga of Pearl City, Hawai'i/Pearl City, scored but Tsutomi was nailed in a bang-bang play at the play trying to score from second. HPU had tied the game at 3-all.
 
In the eighth, junior first baseman Marc Sauceda of Temecula, Calif./Chaparral, doubled with one out, moved to third on a ground out and scored on an RBI single from senior shortstop Mitchell Bumann of Corona, Calif./Temescal Canyon to put HPU on top 4-3.
 
CBU got a baserunner in the ninth on a throwing error that allowed Andrew Bash on board the bases. But junior righthanded reliever Joshua Savea of Gold River, Calif./Rio Americano, closed the door on the Lancers.
 
Junior righthander Christian Miller of Brementon, Wash./Central Kitsap, (1-0) got the win in relief after closing the eighth inning with a double-play ball on his first pitch and forcing a ground out on his fifth. The throwing error in the ninth was the only flaw in Savea's inning as he collected his fifth save of the season.
 
HPU junior starter Charlie Brooks, a righthander from Ventura, Calif./Buena, threw 4.2 innings allowing two runs on six hits with three walks and four strikeouts. Righthanded reliever Evan-Thomas May of Buena Park, Calif./Oxford Academy, worked one inning allowing a run on a hit. Relievers Joshua Muneno of Honolulu/Maryknoll and Jordan Gesling of Lennox, S.D./Roosevelt worked 1.1 scoreless innings with Muneno allowing a hit.
 
Senior infielder Wyatt Hoppie of Orange, Calif./Villa Park, led the Sharks at the plate going 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored.
 
CBU's Rinehart, who carried a no-hit bid into the fourth inning, went 6.2 innings allowing three runs – two earned – on three hits with five walks and seven strikeouts, but received no decision. Angel Delgado (1-1), who pitched the eighth and allowed the winning run on two hits with a strikeout, was tagged with the loss.
 
The Sharks ended a season-opening 20-game homestand with the win and have an open weekend before hitting the road for the first time this season. The Sharks start an eight-game swing with a doubleheader at Dixie State in St. George, Utah on Saturday, March 24.
 
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