HONOLULU – Hawai'i Pacific University junior catcher Brandon Booz had a great day at the plate for the Sharks, despite HPU falling to Hawai'i Hilo 6-4 and 11-8 in PacWest Conference play Sunday at Les Murakami Stadium.
 
The loss drops the Sharks to 2-13 overall, 2-9 in conference play, while the Vulcans improve to 9-5 overall, 9-2 in league action.
 
Booz, the junior backstop from Turlock, Calif./Turlock, went 5-for-6 at bat on the afternoon, with four doubles, three RBIs and four runs scored. He also walked once. He was 2-for-3 in the Sharks 6-4 first game loss, and 3-for-3 in the 11-8 nightcap.
 
The first game was another HPU heartbreaker.
 
The Sharks held a 3-0 lead after six innings thanks to an RBI double from Booz and an RBI ground out from senior designated hitter Joe Gallagher in the second and a sacrifice fly in the fifth from junior third baseman Micah Layosa of Lihue, Hawai'i/Kauai.
 
UH Hilo came back in the seventh with two runs, but HPU added another run in the bottom of the seventh on back-to-back doubles by Booz and Galagher to start the inning.
 
In the eighth, a pair of HPU errors ignited the Vulcans who exploded for three runs to take a 5-4 lead. The Vulcans added another in the ninth for insurance to win 6-4.
 
Freshman righthander Max Beaulieu of Rancho Cucamonga, Calif./Ranch Cucamonga had a strong outing in his first HPU start, going 6.1 innings allowing two runs on three hit with four walks and two strikeouts. Sophomore righthander Stone Parker of Kailua, Hawai'i/Kailua (0-1) got the loss allowing three runs, one earned, on three hits with a strikeout. Freshman righty Daniel Cortez of Diamond Bar, Calif./Diamond Ranch allowed two walks in an inning worked, with redshirt freshman Edward Lee of Honolulu/Kalani giving up one run on three hits with a strikeout in the final inning.
 
UH Hilo's Brandyn Lee-Lehano picked up the win in the first game, working one inning with a walk and two strikeouts. Reliever John Kea chalked up the save with a walk and a strikeout in two innings pitched.
 
The second game was a high-scoring affair with the Vulcans winning 11-8 when the game was ended by a travel curfew in the fifth.
 
Sophomore infielder Richard Higa of Honolulu/University Lab picked up his third triple of the season as one of the highlights.
 
UH Hilo opened the game scoring five runs in the top of the first, only to have HPU answer with four in the bottom of the inning thanks to Higa's RBI triple, Booz' RBI double and a two RBI double from designated hitter Braxton Wehrle of Las Vegas, Nev./Bishop Gorman.
 
The Vulcans plated two more runs in the second, with one run answered with an RBI single from Layosa to trail 7-5.
 
UHH  came back with four more in the top of the third, with the Sharks picking up two in the bottom of the inning on two RBI single from Gallagher. HPU added an eighth run in the bottom of the fourth on Booz' RBI single that made it 11-8.
 
HPU starting sophomore righthander Shane Adams of Honolulu/Mid-Pacific Academy (0-3) took the loss allowing five runs on five hits and two walks in facing nine batters in two-thirds of an inning. Freshman righthander Makana Quia of Waipahu, Hawai'i/Waipahu followed with six runs, five earned, on five hits with a strikeout and a walk in 1.2 innings. D.J. Stephens and Grant Dragmire did not allow a run in 1.2 innings, both with two strikeouts each.
 
Lee-Lehano (3-0) picked up his second win of the day in relief.
 
HPU travels to Hilo next weekend for another set of doubleheaders on Saturday and Sunday against the Vulcans in PacWest Hawai'i play. The Saturday's twinbill at George and Marion Hall Stadium on the UHH campus starts at noon, while the Sunday double-dip has an 11 a.m. first pitch.