KANEOHE, Hawai'i – Azusa Pacific took the first game 2-0, but Hawai'i Pacific University blasted back in the second game with a 9-1 win in six innings in PacWest Conference doubleheader on Wednesday at
Howard Okita Field.
The Sharks (11-8, 6-4) and Cougars (5-12, 1-7) made up the twinbill that was rained out on Monday.
Game one was another pitchers' duel that saw the only runs in the first inning. The second contest was a nail-biter until the bottom of the sixth when the Sharks broke open for six runs to end the game.
Senior second baseman
Miki Takara of Pearl City, Hawai'i/Maryknoll had the hot bat on the day, .going 3-for-4 with an RBI, while junior catcher
Mary Dungey of Las Vegas, Nev./Silverado, went 3-for-7 with two RBI
HPU freshman righthander
Ashlee Laver (4-4) of Irvine, Calif./Woodbridge hurled another complete game, allowing six hits and a walk in seven innings with four strikeouts, but allowed two earned runs in the opening inning and suffered the loss.
Azusa ace Kat Ung (3-4) tossed a masterful four-hit complete game shutout of the Sharks, giving up one walk and striking out three.
The Cougars used a leadoff walk, a bunt single and a sacrifice with an error after the out for the first score, then added an RBI single from Becca Jewett for the 2-0 lead. Neither team plated a run after that.
Senior righthander
Malia Torres (4-4) of Danville, Calif./Monte Vista had command of the second game in the circle for the Sharks, picking up a complete game going six innings allowing one run on six hits with two walks and two strikeouts.
The Sharks scored twice in the second inning on a sacrifice fly followed by an RBI single from sophomore first baseman
Leipua Kaui of Kapa'a, Hawai'i/Kapa'a for the 2-0 lead. The Cougars got one back in the next half inle ning after a leadoff double and an RBI up the middle by Amanda Woods.
HPU added an insurance run in the fifth when Dungey ripped an RBI single up the middle for a 3-1 lead.
In the sixth, APU replaced starter Elizabeth Phillips with Grace Brown. But Brown walked two of the three batters she faced and allowed a hit and left the game for Phillips return and the merry-go-round started. In consecutive at-bats, Phillips allowed an RBI walk, two RBI singles, before getting an out at the plate on a come-back shot to the mound. The she allowed two more RBI singles and an RBI walk to pinch hitter
Poliahu Aina that ended the game.
Phillips (2-7) got the loss with a final line that read just six runs, all earned, on 11 hits with three walks and no strikeouts. Brown allowed three runs, all earned, with a hit and two walks.
The Sharks close their series against Azusa Pacific with the win and next faces Biola in doubleheaders Thursday and Friday at
Howard Okita Field.
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