ST. GEORGE, Utah – Hawai'i Pacific University split games with a pair of nationally ranked opponents on Saturday in the final day of the Dixie State Courtyard Classic at the Canyons Softball Complex.
 
The Sharks (5-6) dropped a 9-1 six-inning decision to No. 21 Colorado Mesa (4-0), but followed it with an upset of host and No. 17 Dixie State (3-1) 6-2.
 
Against Dixie State, the Sharks rode the arm of senior Jordan Curry of Farmington, N.M./Farmington (4-1) to the victory circle. Curry hurled all seven innings allowing two runs on seven hits with a walk and a strikeout. "JoJo" also helped lead the Sharks in the batter's box against the Trailblazers going 2-for-3 with a walk, two runs and an RBI.
 
Junior Sierra Dias of Mililani, Hawai'i/Bishop Gorman went 2-for-2 with two walks, two runs scored and an RBI. Junior Miki Takara of Pearl City, Hawai'i/Maryknoll was 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored.
 
HPU got the first four runs of the game with an RBI double by Takara scoring Curry in the second, a sacrifice bunt by Brandi Leong, and a Curry RBI single in the third, and a Diaz RBI single in the fourth for a 4-0 lead.
 
Dixie collected its first run on an RBI ground out in the fifth, but the Sharks followed with an RBI single from sophomore Cieana Curran of Ewa Beach, Hawai'i/Campbell in the bottom of the frame to lead 5-1.
 
The Blazers added a second run in the sixth as Jessica Gonzalez homered to left field. HPU got it back in the bottom half of the sixth as Dias scored on a fielding error to put the Sharks up 6-2. Curry closed the door on the No. 17 Trailblazers in the seven for the win.
 
In the first game against No. 21 Colorado Mesa, the Mavericks used the long ball to crush the Sharks with three home runs that accounted for six of the nine runs.
 
After a two-run shot by Alexa Samuels in the second inning for CMU, the Sharks picked up their only run in the third on an RBI triple by Dias to plate Curran to make it 2-1. That was as close as HPU would get.
 
In the third a fielding error allowed a Maverick run, and the crushing blow followed in the four as Tayah Gerber ripped a 3-run, pinch hit home run to left for a 6-1 lead. In the fifth Kellie Mrofcza added a solo homer to center field.
 
CMU added another RBI single in the fifth and ended the game in the sixth on an RBI double from Brooke Doumer for the 9-1 win.
 
Sophomore starter Malia Torres of Danville, Calif./Monte Vista (0-2) took the loss allowing seven runs, five earned, on seven hits in 4.0 innings. Senior Alexis Morales of San Diego/Mater Dei Catholic finished up allowing two runs, one earned, on two hits and two walks in 1.1 innings.
 
After almost two weeks on the mainland, the Sharks return to Oahu for their home opener on Sunday, Feb. 17 at Howard Okita Field in Kaneohe. HPU meets Pacific (Ore.) in a doubleheader starting at noon.