WAIPAHU, Hawai'i – Hawai'i Pacific University saw a 7-2 lead evaporate in the final three innings as Academy of Art came from behind for an 8-7 PacWest Conference victory on Monday night at Hans L'Orange Park.
 
The Sharks (19-15, 6-12) allowed ARTU (12-10, 4-7) three-run innings in the sixth and eighth to snap the Sharks three-game win streak and the Urban Knights five-game losing skid.
 
Senior left fielder Jordan Mopas of Ewa Beach, Hawai'i/St. Louis School hit a solo home run to left field in the fifth inning on a 2-for-3 night that also included a double and two runs scored. Senior first baseman Christian Kapeliela of Kaneohe, Hawai'i/Castle went 2-for-4 with a run scored, and sophomore third baseman Micah Layosa of Lihue, Hawai'i/Kauai went 1-for-3 with 2 RBI and a run scored.


The last third of the game spoiled a solid outing by freshman righthander Shane Adams of Honolulu/Mid-Pacific Institute who struck out six in 5.1 innings allowing four runs on five hits with a walk and left the contest with a 7-2 lead, but two of the runners on when he left later scored.
 
Senior righthander Ryan Sanchez of Atwater, Calif./Atwater faced a single batter as did junior lefty Nick O'Connor of Las Vegas, Nev./Chaparral both with walks. Senior Jordan Gesling of Lennox, S.D./Roosevelt pitched two-thirds of an inning allowing a hit. Junior lefty Conlan Myers of Mesa, Ariz./Mountain View hurled 1.2 innings striking out three, but allowing two runs on three hits. Junior Brady Johnson (0-1) of Beaverton, Ore./Westview walked the one batter he faced, who became the eventual winning run for the hard loss. Senior lefthander Joshua Muneno of Honolulu/Maryknoll faced three batters allowing a hit and a walk, and junior righty Travis Paynter of Port Angeles, Wash./Port Angeles threw the final inning striking out one.
 
Junior designated hitter Jake Selco of West Hills, Calif./El Camino Real lead off the top of the second with a base hit and was advanced to third on two fly outs. Junior catcher Jared Bannister of San Ramon, Calif./Bishop O'Dowd brought him in with a liner through the left side.
 
ARTU came back with two runs in the top of the fourth on RBI singles from Zak May and Noah Daubin.
 
HPU returned the favor with five runs in the bottom of the inning inning starting with a base hit from Kapeliela, a walk for Selco, and a wild pitch to advance both runners. After Mopas was walked, Layosa singled to right center bringing in two. An RBI single from junior second baseman Trey Yukumoto of Waipahu, Hawai'i/Leilehua followed by a two RBI double from senior centerfielder Tanner Tokunaga of Pearl City, Hawai'i/Pearl City brought in runs four, five, and six.
 
Mopas followed in the fifth with what was thought to be an exclamation point with his PacWest leading ninth home run down the left field line to take the HPU lead to 7-2. It was Mopas fourth home run against the Urban Knights in three days.
 
The Urban Knight started a comeback in the sixth on a lead-off double, and an RBI single from Danny Gardiner. After two HPU pitching changes and two walks, an Alex Golembiewski two RBI single it narrowed the lead to 7-5.
 
In the eighth, ARTU led off the inning with two quick outs before going to work, loading the bases on back-to-back singles and a walk by Johnson. Muneno entered and walked pinch hitter Caden Spilsbury to score one run, then Justin Summers rifled a single into left that scored another. On that play the Urban Knights sent Angel Mora home. Mopas threw a perfect strike to HPU catcher Nate Affonso who tagged out Mora. But instead of an out, Affonso was ruled to have blocked home plate without the ball and was declared safe.
 
The Urban Knights Gonzo Rios threw the first 3.1 innings allowing five runs (three earned) on five hits with three walks. Donnie Gardiner (1-0) got the win in relief going 3.2 innings allowing two runs, one earned, on three hits with a walk. Galen Manhard picked up his fifth pitching the final two innings without a run on a hit and three strikeouts.
 
The Sharks are off until Friday, April 5th, when Hawai'i Hilo visits Hans L'Orange Park for a four-game series. The Friday game is set for 6 p.m.