KANEOHE, Hawai'i – Hawai'i Pacific University extended its three-game win streak with a first game victory, but had it snapped with a second game loss as HPU split a PacWest Conference doubleheader with Hawai'i Hilo on Friday afternoon at Howard Okita Field.
 
The Sharks (3-10, 3-10) took game one 3-2, while the Vulcans (12-5, 12-5) claimed the nightcap 6-2.
 
Senior catcher Mary Dungey of Las Vegas, Nev./Silverado went 2-for-3 in the first game and 3-for-6 for the afternoon with two doubles and two RBIs. Freshman shortstop Cherise Horita of Aiea, Hawai'i/Kalani went 2-for-3 for the afternoon including her first career homerun and two RBIs.
 
Junior righthander Malia Torres of Danville, Calif./Monte Vista (2-5) picked up her second straight win in the opener, allowing two runs on seven hits with a walk and strikeout in the complete game.
 
Junior lefthander Megan Wilson (1-5) of Santa Clarita, Calif./West Ranch suffered the loss in the complete game, allowing six runs, three earned, on 10 hits with no walks in seven innings.
 
The Sharks made the first contest an exciting one. The Vulcans broke a scoreless tie in the third after a leadoff double followed by a pair of RBI singles.
 
HPU answered with a single run in the fourth when freshman third base Poliahu Aina of Kailua, Hawai'i/Kamehameha-Kapalama smacked an RBI single to cut the UHH lead to 2-1.
 
Then in the bottom of the sixth, the Sharks rallied with two out. Dungey ripped an RBI double to right center to knot the game. And after back-to-back walks that loaded the bases, Horita stepped up with a pinch-hit RBI single to score Dungey and put HPU up 3-2.
 
In the seventh UH Hilo got two on with one out, before a ground out to third erased the lead runner for two outs. Then Chloe Domingo laced a single to right where Horita gathered the ball and fired a laser shot home to beat Brandee Chinen trying to score from second for the final out of the game.
 
Valerie Alvarado (4-3) got the loss allowing three runs on seven hits with three walks and three strikeouts in six innings.
 
In the second game, HPU jumped out to an early lead, thanks to a two-out RBI double from Dungey in the first inning, and Horita's solo homer to lead off the second to go up 2-0.
 
The Sharks held the lead until the fourth when the Vulcans took advantage of two HPU errors and belted four hits including a 3-run homerun by Domingo on the way to five runs in the frame. UH Hilo added a sixth run in the sixth with an RBI double for the 6-2 final.
 
Sara Bhatt (4-1) went the distance for the win, allowing two runs on six hits with three walks and a strikeout.
 
The twinbill was the start of a six-game series this weekend between the Sharks and Vulcans. The teams meet in two more doubleheaders on Saturday and Sunday starting at noon each day at Okita Field.