HONOLULU – Hawai'i Pacific University's eight-game win streak was snapped by Holy Names 13-1 in the opening game of a PacWest Conference doubleheader before HPU roared back for a 9-1 six inning run rule triumph on Wednesday at Sand Island Park.
The Sharks (15-9, 9-1) and Hawks (3-8, 2-4) moved the contests to Sand Island Park after HPU's Howard A. Okita Field was deemed unplayable by continued overnight rains.
The Sharks were led offensively by freshman rightfielder
Noel Saunders of Pearl City, Hawai'i/Pearl City who went 3-for-7 with two runs scored over both games. Freshman second baseman
Brandi Leong of Wahiawa, Hawai'i/Leilehua chalked up two RBIs going 1-for-2 with a walk in game two.
Senior righthander
Jordan Curry (10-2) of Farmington, N.M./Farmington, won her 10th game of the season with her eighth complete game in the second contest, striking out five Hawks while allowing a run on six hits and a walk in six innings.
Senior righthander
Emilee Leonard (3-3) of La Mirada, Calif./St. Paul, suffered the game one loss as she struck out three, walked five and allowed six runs on eight hits in 5.2 innings. Sophomore righthanded reliever
Malia Torres of Danville, Calif./Monte Vista, finished the first game allowing seven runs, three earned, on five hits with a walk and a strikeout in 1.1 innings.
The Hawks got on the board in the first inning as catcher Aly Cerda drew a bases-loaded walk from Leonard for the 1-0 lead.
HPU answered in the bottom of the first on an RBI single from freshman first baseman
Leipua Kaui of Kapa'a, Hawai'i/Kapa'a to tie the game. It would be the Sharks only run of the game.
As play continued in an off-and-on drizzle, the Hawks retook the lead when Kayla Hall crushed the first pitch in the second over the fence in center field. HNU was up 2-1.
The Hawks scored twice more in the fifth on an RBI double and RBI single. They posted two more in the sixth on an RBI double and a wild pitch.
But it was the seventh that deflated the Sharks. The Hawks took advantage of three HPU errors and bashed out five hits for seven runs to win 13-1.
HNU's Synphony Hall (1-2) won her first game of the season, recording a complete game with three strikeouts and allowing the one run on four hits with a walk in seven innings.
In the second game, the Sharks held the Hawks in the first and added three runs in the bottom of the frame. HPU collected a sacrifice fly from Leong, an RBI single from Leonard and an RBI single from Curry.
The Hawks put up a run in the second as Cassidy Simon ripped an RBI single to pull HNU within two at 3-1.
HPU responded with two more runs in the bottom of the second as Leong belted another RBI single to right and then helped execute a double-steal that saw Kaui swipe home for the 5-1 lead. In the third the Sharks added another run as senior shortstop
Tiana Cantero-Kawelo of Wahiawa, Hawai'i/Leilehua beat out an infield single for an RBI for a 6-1 advantage.
The Sharks tallied three runs in the sixth inning to force the run-rule ending. Junior third baseman
Sierra Dias of Mililani, Hawai'i/Bishop Gorman scored on a wild pitch, sophomore right fielder
Ashley Iseri of Cerritos, Calif./Whitney added an RBI single and a pinch hit RBI ground out from junior
Brazzlynn Tovio-Asato of Kapolei, Hawai'i/University Lab gave HPU the 9-1 win.
Chailey Stewart (0-4) picked up the loss for HNU, going two-thirds of an inning allowing three unearned runs on two hits and a walk. Haighley Kissee pitched 1.1 innings allowing three runs on two hits and three walks with a strikeout. Hall relieved in the third inning allowing just two hits and two walks until the sixth inning. When the dust cleared she had allowed three runs, all earned, on four hits with three walks in 3.2 innings.
The Sharks are on their way to southern California to start a 12-game swing starting at Azusa Pacific on Friday at Noon HST (2 p.m. PST).
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