WAIPAHU, Hawai'i – Hawai'i Pacific University opened a five-game, non-conference weekend series by splitting games against Drury (Mo.) on Friday night at Hans L'Orange Park.
 
The Sharks (3-3) dropped the opener to the Panthers (5-4) 7-3, but came back to dominate the 7-inning nightcap 16-8.
 
HPU was led offensively on the night by senior designated hitter and pitcher Jake Selco of West Hills, Calif./El Camino Real, who went 4-for-4 in the second game with two doubles, a triple and a home run with two RBI. He was a single from the cycle. Senior third baseman Joe Gallagher of Sacramento, Calif./Del Campo, who went 3-for-7 on the night with a homerun, two RBI and three runs scored. Junior catcher Brandon Booz of Turlock, Calif./Turlock was 2-for-3 in the second game with a home run and three RBI.
 
First game starter Shane Adams of Honolulu/Mid-Pacific Institute, did not get the decision despite hurling six innings. The righthander allowed five hits for two runs with a walk and four strikeouts. Freshman righty Daniel Cortez (0-1) of Diamond Bar, Calif./Diamond Ranch, took the loss, allowing two runs on two walks and a RBI sacrifice. Senior righty Grant Dragmire of Elk Grove, Calif./Bradshaw Christian, allowed a hit, a wild pitch and recorded a strikeout in two-thirds of an inning, while junior lefthander Conlan Myers of Mesa, Ariz./Mountain View, threw two innings with three runs on four hits with four strikeouts.
 
Selco, a lefty, started the second game, but went only three innings plus five batters, giving up five run, four earned, on three hits, with two walks and two strikeouts. Freshman righthander Jason Shiigi of Mililani, Hawai'i/Mililani recorded two walks and a strikeout in two-thirds of an innings. Sophomore righty Kyle Layugan (1-0) of Wahiawa, Hawai'i/Mid-Pacific Institute, hurled 1.1 innings allowing an unearned run on one hit with two strikeouts to get his first win of the season in relief. Sophomore righthander Cole Mayeshiro of Mililani, Hawai'i/Mililani finished with two innings and allowing two runs on four hits with a walk and two strikeouts.
 
The Sharks opened the contest with tallies in the second and third innings. HPU drew first blood when junior Diego Harris of Los Angeles/Crespi drilled an RBI single through the left side in the second. In the third, junior Braxton Wehrle of Las Vegas, Nev./Bishop Gorman, smacked a one-out triple and scored when the Panthers dropped a third strike and threw down to first to record the out.
 
But it was the seventh that did in the Sharks. Adams allowed Drury a leadoff seeing eye single and an RBI double from Riley Herron for their first run. But it forced Adams from the game for Cortez. A stolen base, a walk and a sacrifice bunt later tied the game at 2-2, then another walk brought Dragmire in. A popup got the second out of the inning, but a wild pitch moved up the runners for a two-RBI single from DH Brant Schaffitzel that put Drury on top to stay 4-2.
 
The Panthers added three more runs in the eighth on an RBI single from Ethan Owens and a two-RBI triple DJ McNew for the 7-2 advantage.
 
The Sharks added a run in the ninth on Gallagher's second home run of the year for the 7-3 final.
 
Tom Tewes (1-1) got the win, pitching six innings, allowing two runs on five hits with three walks and seven strikeouts. Michael Barnes pitched two scoreless/hitless innings with three strikeouts and a walk, while Colby Childs finish with a walk and the Gallagher homer.
 
HPU all but put it away early in the second game, scoring seven runs in the first three innings.
 
The Sharks collected three first inning runs after a dropped fly ball allowed senior first baseman Jared Bannister of San Ramon, Calif./Bishop O'Dowd to score with two outs. Then an RBI single from Gallagher set up Selco who hit an 0-2 pitch deep into the trees in right field for a 4-0 lead.
 
In the second HPU got a walk just ahead of junior Micah Layosa of Lihue, Hawai'i/Kauai who belted his first homer of the season to left center for a 6-0 advantage. Then in the third, a single and a double set the plate for Booz who hit a sacrifice fly to put HPU up 7-zip.
 
The Panthers roared back with five runs in the top of the fourth, as Drury scored on an RBI single, and a two-RBI single to chase Selco. Shiigi followed with a wild pitch and a sacrifice fly, but a walk and a passed ball sent in Layugan who whed down the inning with HPU still up 7-5.
 
HPU plated a run in the fourth as freshman Nicholas Jio of San Diego/Scripps Ranch tripled to lead off the inning and scored on a sac fly, but the Panthers returned the favor in the top of the fifth after a double, a throwing error and a wild pitch allowed an unearned run.
 
HPU broke the game open with seven runs, all after two out in the bottom of the fifth. After two strikeouts, HPU got a triple from Selco (to go with his homer and double), and Booz belted a two-run shot to left field. HPU loaded the bases before senior pinch hitter Trey Yukumoto of Waipahu, Hawai'i/Leilehua was hit on the first pitch reliever Spencer Witherspoon threw to drive in a run. Another wild pitch scored Jio and Wehrle chalked up a bases-clearing three-RBI triple to put HPU up 15-6.
 
The Panthers scored two more with a pair of RBI singles in the sixth, only to have the Sharks added one more as senior Jarred Uyeda of Aiea, Hawai'i/Aiea got an RBI single with runners on the corners for the 16-8 lead.
 
Mayeshiro allowed hit, but struck out the final batter to close the game.
 
Starter Hunter Becker (1-1) took the loss allowing eight runs, four earned, on seven hits with two walks and two strikeouts. Lane Koetter pitched an inning allowing five runs on two hits with two walks and two strikeouts. Witherspoon pitched a third of an inning allowing the two-run homer with a walk and a strikeout, while Austin Anderson finished up allowing a run on three hits in one inning.
 
The Sharks and Panthers have another doubleheader on Saturday at Hans L'Orange Park, starting at 2 p.m. The series wraps up on Sunday with a single game at 1 p.m.
 
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