SAN RAFAEL, Calif. — Hawai'i Pacific University jumped back into PacWest Conference softball action on Tuesday, taking a doubleheader from Dominican (Calif.) 8-7 and 2-1 at Penguin Field.
 
The Sharks (13-12, 6-8) brought their season record back over .500, while the Penguins (12-24, 3-13) dropped their third straight contest.
 
HPU started the afternoon off with a bang in the second inning of game one. Junior Jordan Curry started things off with a base hit to right field followed by freshman Taylor Okamura's single to center field and freshman Mary Dungey walk to load the bases. Senior Sienna Santiago of Eleele, Hawai'i/Waimea then cranked not only her first home run of the season, but her first grand slam of the year to put the Sharks up 4-0.
 
Another four run inning in the fourth brought a chance to utilize the eight-run rule. Curry struck again with a double to left field, and Dungey brought her to third with an infield single (advanced to second on the throw). Santiago tallied her fifth RBI with a fielder's choice to get on base, and Curry out-ran the throw to bring in the score. The Sharks continued the rally with a double steal sending Santiago to second and Dungey swiping home. After a Dominican pitching change, senior Kiana Wolfe warmed her up with a triple to right field bringing in Santiago and a Penguin fielding error allowed the fourth run of the inning for an 8-0 lead.
 
The Penguins weren't letting the Sharks walk away easy; they tallied two runs in the fourth on a passed ball and fielder's choice to take away the eight run lead.
 
Dominican kept the rally going in the sixth with two more runs off of an HPU throwing error. They continued to score in the seventh almost tying the game. In the final frame the Penguins grabbed two doubles and two base hits for a total of three runs but HPU was able to shut them down before tying the match.

Curry of Farmington, N.M./Farmington pitched for 3.1 innings allowing two runs (both earned) off of four hits and two walks. Senior Gabriella Nowack of San Jose, Calif./Silver Creek saw 3.0 allowing five runs (all earned) off of five hits and three walks. She recorded one strikeout and gets the win on the day bringing her to 3-3 on the season. Senior Alexa McCoin of Sacramento, Calif/Pleasant Grove pitched for the final two outs of the game allowing just one hit and a walk. She also posted a strikeout and got her first save of the season.
 
Dominican's Alyssa Waltman pitched three innings for the Penguins allowing five runs (all earned) off of five hits and a walk. She tallied two strikeouts on the Sharks but suffered the loss (3-6). Lauren Persi pitched for four innings allowing three earned runs off of three hits and a walk.
 
The Sharks were led by Santiago who went 2-for-3 on the game with five RBI and two runs scored. Curry also hit 2-for-3 with two runs scored, and Wolfe hit 1-for-3 with an RBI triple and a run scored.
 
Game two saw much more defensive play with Dominican scoring their only run in the first frame off of a walk, a passed ball, and an RBI double.
 
The Sharks didn't hit the board until the sixth with freshman Cieana Curran singling up the middle and stealing second. Wolfe brought her over to third with a ground-out, and Santiago once again brought her home with an infield single to tie the game. The winning run came from senior Noelani Boyer who doubled to right center bringing home Santiago.
 
McCoin of Sacramento, Calif./Pleasant Grove, pitched for three innings allowing just one earned run off of four hits and two walks. She also posted a strikeout, but didn't get to take home the win. Junior Alexis Morales of San Diego, Calif./Mater Dei Catholic pitched four innings for the Sharks not allowing a hit and tallied two strikeouts for the win bringing her to 4-2 on the season.
 
HPU is scheduled for another PacWest doubleheader on Thursday against Notre Dame de Namur on Thursday. First pitch is scheduled for 9 a.m. HST (Noon PDT) in Belmont, Calif.