ST. GEORGE, Utah – Hawai'i Pacific University chalked up a pair of wins on Friday at the Dixie State Courtyard Classic at the Canyons Softball Complex.
 
The Sharks (4-5) needed nine innings to beat Colorado State-Pueblo 4-3, then followed with a 8-7 win over Chadron State (Neb.) in the second game of the day.
 
Senior Jordan Curry of Farmington, N.M./Farmington was the star of the day for the Sharks in the circle. The righthander entered in relief in both games to record both wins to raise her record to 3-1 on the season. She pitched 10.2 innings allowing a total of seven hits with three runs (one earned), with eight strikeouts and six walks.
 
Junior Sierra Dias of Mililani, Hawai'i/Bishop Gorman was 3-for-4 with two RBIs to lead the Sharks against Colorado State-Pueblo, while senior Tiana Cantero-Kawelo of Wahiawa, Hawai'i/Leilehua was 3-for-3 with two runs and freshman Noel Saunders of Pearl City, Hawai'i/Pearl City was 2-for-3 with three RBIs and two runs scored against Chadron State.
 
The game with CSUP was a scoreless battle through seven innings, with both squads twice getting runners to third but not scoring.
 
Thanks to the international tie breaker rule that places a base runner at second to start an inning, both teams got on the scoreboard.
 
The Sharks scored twice in the top of the eighth with an RBI single from freshman Leipua Kaui of Kapa'a, Hawai'i/Kapa'a followed by an RBI single from Saunders. But the Thunderwolves tied the contest in the bottom of the eighth on a ground out and a sacrifice fly.
 
In the ninth, sophomore Cieana Curran of Ewa Beach, Hawai'i/Campbell reached on a error to put runners at the corners on before Dias bashed a two-out, two RBI double to left field to put the Sharks up 4-2. In the bottom of the inning, CSUP got an RBI single from Sabrina Felix following a wild pitch. Another single and a walk loaded the bases before the Thunderwolves lined out and grounded out to end the game.
 
HPU junior starter Emilee Leonard of LaMirada, Calif./St. Paul allowed three hits in 3.2 innings with a strikeout before leaving in the top of the fourth after getting hit by a base hit. Curry came in and pitched the next 5.1 innings striking out five, scattering four hits in 5.1 innings and not allowing a run until the extra innings.
 
CSUP hurler Taylor Strupp (0-2) was tagged with the loss.
 
The Sharks scored seven runs in the fifth and sixth innings against Chadron State to win 8-7.
 
After both teams scored in the first, the Eagles ripped HPU starting pitcher Alexis Morales for six runs in the second to take a 7-1. Morales allowed seven runs, all earned, on eight hits with two walks and a strikeout in 1.2 innings. But Curry followed hurling 5.1 innings of three hit ball without allowing a run and striking out three.
 
The Sharks freshman Hailey McKim of Linn, Mo./Linn belted her first career home run with a two-run shot in the fifth inning. Then in the sixth, with two on and two out, Saunders ripped her first career round tripper with a three-run pop to center field. McKim followed with a double and freshman Brandi Leong of Wahiawa, Hawai'i/Leilehua a single. Curry stepped up to drive them both in with a two RBI single to left to put HPU up 8-7.
 
Curry shut down the Eagles in the seventh allowing only a bunt single – one of the three hits for Chadron in the last 5.1 innings. Curry fanned three Chadron State batters.
 
The Shark are scheduled to conclude the Courtyard Classic on Saturday when they face No. 21 Colorado Mesa at 7 a.m. HST (10 a.m. MST) and the host, No. 17 Dixie State, at 9:30 a.m. HST (12:30 p.m. MST).