LA MIRADA, Calif. – Hawai'i Pacific University earned a split of its PacWest Conference doubleheader with Biola on Tuesday, falling in the first game 2-0 and winning the second 8-6.
 
The Sharks (18-14, 12-6) got back on the winning track after three straight losses, while the Eagles (9-9, 4-4) had a three-game win streak ended.
 
Freshman Noel Saunders of Pearl City, Hawai'i/Pearl City was the star of the offense on the day going 3-for-5 with an RBI, two runs scored and two walks. Junior Sierra Dias of Mililani, Hawai'i/Bishop Gorman went 2-for-3 in game one putting up the only two Shark hits.
 
Jordan Curry (11-5) of Farmington, N.M./Farmington struck out a season-high eight batters in recording her 12th complete game, but was tagged with the game one loss allowing two runs, one earned, on four hits with four walks in six innings.
 
Junior righthander Emilee Leonard (5-4) of La Mirada, Calif./Saint Paul followed with a season-high eight strikeouts in a complete game win allowing six runs, two earned on eight hits with four walks in seven innings.


In game one, Biola hit the board in the first inning with a run on a base hit, two walks and a wild pitch. They added their final run in the fifth on a hit batter, an HPU fielding error allowing the runner to advance, and an RBI single.
 
The Eagle's Paige Austin (4-4) threw all seven frames only giving up two hits with two walks and four strikeouts.
 
Game two was much more of a nail-biter.
 
The Sharks scored two runs in the first inning as senior shortstop Tiana Cantero-Kawelo of Wahiawa, Hawai'i/Leilehua reached on an Eagle fielding error followed by Dias' infield single. Saunders kept it going with a knock through the left side, and Leonard brought in Cantero-Kawelo with a sacrifice fly. Dias was able to score on the failed throw down of Saunders from first to second making it 2-0 Sharks.
 
Biola got one back as Kayla Neff homered in the bottom of the first.
 
HPU added one more to their lead in the second as sophomore centerfielder Cieana Curran of Ewa Beach, Hawai'i/Campbell reached on fielder's choice, stole second, and was brought in with an RBI single by Cantero-Kawelo for a 3-1 Shark lead.
 
The Eagles added an unearned run in the third on an HPU fielding error allowing the runner to advance to second and scoring on a base hit. They tied it at 3-3 in the fourth on a leadoff double from Areana Ramos and another base hit to bring her in.
 
The Sharks gained some ground in the fifth with two more runs on two hits, one crossing when junior Brazzlynn Tovio-Asato of Kapolei, Hawai'i/University Lab was hit a pitch bringing in Saunders. Brandi Leong of Waihiawa, Hawai'i/Leilehua later scored on a wild pitch giving HPU a 5-3 advantage.

In the sixth HPU added two more runs on a total of four Eagle errors in the inning with just one hit from Saunders.
 
Biola came back within one in the bottom of the sixth when Andi Hormel stole home before Kylie Velasco belted a two-run homer to left to cut the Sharks lead to 7-6.
 
HPU sealed the deal in the seventh scoring again on two errors and a single from Cantero-Kawelo.
 
Biola's Paula Damas threw for two innings allowing three runs, two earned, on two hits with a walk. Jennifer Morinishi took the loss in game two going 3.2 innings giving up four runs, two earned, on five hits with a walk and three strikeouts. Paige Austin closed the game giving up an unearned run on a hit with a strikeout.
 
HPU continues their southern California road trip at Concordia Irvine on Thursday. First pitch is at 10:00 a.m. HST (1 p.m. PDT).