HILO, Hawai'i – Hawai'i Pacific University scored six runs in the first three innings at Hawai'i Hilo and cruised to a 9-2 non-conference victory on Sunday afternoon at Wong Stadium.
 
The Sharks (8-2) collected three of the five games in the weekend series that opened the season for the Vulcans (2-3).
 
HPU got a superb performance from freshman right hander Shane Adams of Honolulu/Mid-Pacific Institute (2-0) who picked up his second win of the young season, allowing one run on seven hits with four strikeouts and a walk in seven innings. Freshman righty Cole Mayeshiro of Mililani, Hawai'i/Mililani came in relief, allowing a run on two hits with two strikeouts and a walk in two innings pitched.
 
Senior first baseman Christian Kapeliela of Kaneohe, Hawai'i/Castle collected two RBIs and a run in going 1-for-3 with a walk. Junior rightfielder Sean Coffey of Boise, Idaho/Centennial was 2-for-5 with an RBI and run scored.
 
After a leadoff single, freshman catcher Kyle Layugan of Wahiawa, Hawai 'i/Mid-Pacific Institute ripped an RBI double to open the scoring in the first. Kapeliela added a second run with an RBI single through the left side and junior designated hitter Jared Bannister of San Ramon, Calif./Bishop O'Dowd drove home a third run with an RBI double for a 3-0 HPU lead.
 
The Sharks added a run on a Kapeliela sacrifice fly in the second and plated two more in the third on an RBI single by senior centerfielder Tanner Tokunaga of Pearl City, Hawai'i/Pearl City and an RBI ground out by Coffey for a 6-0 lead.
 
UH Hilo scored in the bottom of the third , but HPU answered with a run in the fifth off a wild pitch.
 
In the eighth HPU added two insurance runs with an RBI double from freshman Dylan Kurahasi-Choy Foo of Waimanalo, Hawai'i/Kailua and an RBI single from sophomore third baseman Micah Layosa from Lihue, Hawai'i/Kauai.
 
The Vulcans got a run back in the bottom of the ninth on an RBI double from John Bicos.
 
While the weekend series came to a close, the Sharks and the Vulcans come to Oahu next weekend as HPU and UHH play a non-conference doubleheader next Saturday and Sunday at Hans L'Orange Park. First pitch on Saturday is set for 2 p.m.