BRISBANE, Calif. — Hawai'i Pacific University dropped a pair of one-run games as Academy of Art edged the Sharks 1-0 and 2-1 in PacWest Conference action on Saturday afternoon at Mission Blue Field.
 
The Sharks (21-16, 14-12) could only scratch out three hits on the day, but remained close as they held the Urban Knights (33-12, 16-6) to a total of three runs in the two contests.
 
The only run of the game by ARTU came in the very first frame. Gabi Hirsch claimed an infield single to get on base, stole second, and was sent to third on a sacrifice bunt from Brenna Mitchell. Hirsch scored on a fielder's choice out and the Urban Knights collected the determining run.
 
Meanwhile, ARTU's Brooke Larsen was dueling with HPU junior righthander Jordan Curry of Farmington, N.M./Farmington in the circle, as the duo set down batter after batter.
 
Larson's pefect-game bid was broken up by the Sharks with one out in the seventh by sophomore Sierra Dias of Mililani, Hawai'i/Bishop Gorman, who singled to center field. But the Sharks got no further.
 
Larson (18-3) went the distance facing 22 batters, with just one hit and five HPU strikeouts in the gem.
 
Curry (5-6) pitched a magnificent game, but was a hard luck loser. She faced 21 batters in six innings, allowing the run on two hits with a walk while twirling 70 pitches.
 
Game two started with the Sharks grabbing an early run in the first. Senior Sienna Santiago of Ele'ele, Hawai'i/Waimea led off the game by crushing a triple down the left field line to spark the bench. Senior Noelani Boyer of Carson, Calif./Banning was walked, and freshman Cieana Curran of Ewa Beach, Hawai'i/Campbell tallied the RBI with a single up the middle to plate Santiago. A double steal from Boyer and Curran put the Sharks in place for two more runs, but they couldn't find the hit to bring them home.
 
The Urban Knights replied with two runs in the bottom of the first frame. Mitchell walked and Samantha Klune singled to advance her to second. She scored on an RBI single through the middle by Larsen, who advanced to second on a throw home that putting Klune on third. Gracie Sotomayor plated the final run with an RBI single through the left side giving ARTU the 2-1 lead.
 
The remaining six frames were scoreless with the Urban Knights turning a double play in the fifth. Despite Urban Knights two errors in the game, HPU couldn't find the board again.
 
The Sharks saw just three hits on the day from Dias, Santiago, and Curran while Hirsch went 3-for6 with a run scored for the Knights.

HPU and ARTU are scheduled to play again Sunday in a second PacWest doubleheader at Mission Blue Field. The first pitch is set for 9:00 a.m. HST (Noon PDT).