HONOLULU – Hawai'i Pacific University held a brief lead early, but Division I neighbor Hawai'i proved to be stronger on Saturday afternoon beating HPU 10-2 in the third game of the series at Les Murakami Stadium.
 
The Sharks (0-3) once again hung with the Rainbow Warriors (4-2) for five innings before a big inning spelled the difference.
 
HPU got productive offense from junior centerfielder Diego Harris of Los Angeles, Calif./Crespi, who went 2-for-3 with a run scored, and junior third baseman Micah Layosa of Lihue, Hawai'i/Kauai who was 2-for-4.
 
Starting righthander Cole Mayeshiro of Mililani, Hawai'i/Mililani (0-1) got the loss, going 4.1 innings allowing five runs, three earned, on 11 hits with three strikeouts and a walk. Righthanded reliever Nico Gomez went an inning and a third allowing three runs on three hits and two walks. Junior ighty Zack McHone of Bakersfield, Calif./Liberty Hills hurled an inning and a third of one-hit ball with a walk, while junior righthander Evan Spitzer of Mesa, Ariz./Desert Ridge closed the game going an inning with two runs on three hits with a walk.
 
UH starter Austin Teixeira (2-0) got the win, going seven innings allowing the two unearned runs on seven hits, with a walk and eight strikeouts. Cameron Hagan followed with two hitless innings giving up a walk.
 
After the Warriors scored a run in the bottom of the first, HPU scratched out a pair of runs in the third. Harris led off the inning with a single and advanced to third after Kyle Layugan reached on a fielders' choice with an error. Joe Gallagher drove an RBI single through the right side to tie the game and the Sharks took the lead on Haydon Huff's RBI single through the left side to lead 2-1.
 
The Bows came right back taking advantage of two Shark errors to score three runs to retake the lead. UH added another on an RBI single in the fourth.
 
But it was the sixth that doomed the Sharks, allowing three runs on a pair of RBI singles and a wild pitch. UH plated two more insurance runs in the eighth.
 
HPU wraps up this season-opening series at the big stadium in Manoa against the Rainbow Warriors on Sunday afternoon. First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 p.m.