KANEOHE, Hawai'i – Hawai'i Pacific University opened the final homestand of the season on a down note on Tuesday, falling to Academy of Art 2-0 and 7-3 in PacWest Conference play at Howard Okita Field.
 
The Sharks (27-22, 18-12) are now on a four-game losing skid, while the Urban Knights (13-10, 9-4) ran their winning streak to five.
 
Senior right-hander Jordan Curry (17-8) of Farmington, N.M./Farmington took the loss while collecting her 20th complete game of the season in the first contest. She struck out six, but allowed two runs, one earned, on seven hits with five walks. Sophomore Malia Torres (0-4) of Danville, Calif./Monte Vista hurled all seven innings of game two allowing seven runs, five earned, on 12 hits and two walks.
 
The Sharks had the first chance to score in the bottom of the second inning with junior Emilee Leonard of La Mirada, Calif./St. Paul out running the throw to first for a base hit and Curry took a stinger to put two on. Freshman Leipua Kaui of Kapa'a, Hawai'i/Kapa'a singled on a bunt to load the bases, but nobody could bring them home ending the inning with three on.
 
HPU held the Urban Knights for the first two frames but went down a run in the third on a fielding error followed by a single and an RBI double by Lauryn Henderson.
 
The Sharks had another chance to score in the sixth with runners on second and third but again couldn't find a hole to bring them home.
 
ART U found one more run in the seventh on a single, a sacrifice and an RBI single from Dominique Seva'aetasi finalizing the score at 2-0.
 
ART U's Hannah Rose Balke (5-7) threw all seven innings allowing just three hits and two walks for the shutout victory.
 
In game two, the Urban Knights tallied an unearned run in the first inning with the run scoring on a throwing error in an attempt to throw down the runner at second.
 
ART U added to that lead with two more runs in the third frame with a trio of hits, including an RBI single and a sacrifice fly.
 
The Sharks scored the first run of the day in the fourth inning with Curry reaching on a fielder's choice. Freshman Brandi Leong of Wahiawa, Hawai'i/Leilehua scored her from first base with a threaded ball down the left field line for an RBI double. Leong was scored by freshman Hailey McKim of Linn, Mo./Linn who reached on a fielder's choice, but Cieana Curran of Ewa Beach, Hawai'i/Campbell was able to score from second on an Urban Knight fielding error tying the game at 3-3.
 
Academy of Art retook the lead in the sixth with an unearned run scored on an HPU fielding error. Then in the seventh, the Urban Knights added three more runs on five hits for the 7-3 win.
 
ART U's Cecilia Lopez (7-3) pitched all seven innings allowing three unearned runs on five hits. She walked one and picked up three strikeouts in taking the win.
 
The teams are back in action on Wednesday afternoon in a PacWest doubleheader at Howard Okita Field. The first pitch is set for 1 p.m.