KANEOHE, Hawai'i – Hawai'i Pacific University swept a PacWest Conference Hawai'i doubleheader from leader Hawai'i Hilo on Sunday 4-3 and 2-1 at Howard Okita Field.
 
The Sharks (6-11, 6-11) won both games that were settled in the final at-bat against the Vulcans (13-7, 13-7).
 
HPU won the first game on the final play when UH Hilo's Kamaile Labasan was thrown out by HPU senior catcher Mary Dungey of Las Vegas, Nev./Silverado trying to take an extra base after an RBI single that pulled UHH within a run.
 
In the second contest, freshman Cherise Horita of Aiea, Hawai'i/Kalani ripped a bases-loaded RBI single to centerfield to drive in redshirt freshman first baseman Poliahu Aina to give the Sharks a 2-1 win.
 
Senior centerfielder Cieana Curran of Ewa Beach, Hawai'i/Campbell went 3-for-5 on the day with her seventh career home run and two RBIs on Senior Day. Horita was 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs, including the game-winner.
 
Junior righthander Malia Torres of Danville, Calif./Monte Vista (4-5) started both ends of the twinbill, winning game one allowing three runs, one earned, on nine hits and two walks with four strikeouts in the complete game. She hurled three shutout innings in the second game, allowing two hits and a walk. Junior lefthander Megan Wilson (2-6) of Santa Clarita, Calif./West Ranch collected the win in relief, going four innings allowing one run on five hits.
 
The Sharks plated three runs in the first inning of game one, loading the bases before sophomore leftfielder Noel "Tita" Saunders of Pearl City, Hawai'i/Pearl City scored on a passed ball. After a wild pitch scored scored Horita, Curran smacked an RBI single to plate Dungey and give the Sharks a 3-0 lead.
 
UH Hilo responded with an unearned run in the second and added a second in the fifth to pull within a run.
 
HPU responded with a run in the bottom of the fifth as Saunders walked, then scored on Horita's RBI double.
 
In the seventh, UH Hilo was down to its last out when designated hitter Taisha Bratton reached on a fielding error. She was lifted for pinch runner Brandee Chinen who went to second on a passed ball. Labasan hit a hard liner to center that sent Chinen home ahead of the throw from Curran. Labasan then tried to take second on the throw but was gunned down by Dungey to end the game.
 
Nia Trinidad (0-1) took the loss, allowing four runs on five hits with four walks and a strikeout in six innings.
 
In the nightcap, Curran blasted her first home run since 2019 down the right field line to put HPU up 1-0.
 
That score stood until the top of the sixth, when the Vulcans used a double by Vevesi Li'ili'i to set up the play. Chloe Domingo layed down a bunt that HPU catcher Dungey fired down the line. The ball hit Domingo on what was ruled a single, but the ricochet allowed Li'ili'i to round third and score on a bang-bang play at the plate to tie the game at 1-1.
 
The game moved to the bottom of the seventh where Aina led off by drawing a leadoff walk. Saunders sacrifice bunted, but reached on a throwing error. The Sharks loaded the bases when a sacrifice bunt was picked up down the third base line and held to keep any further advancing. That's when Horita stepped up with the RBI single to walk off the game.
 
Sara Bhatt (4-2) got the loss in relief, allowing a run on two hits and three walks with two strikeouts. Starter Leah Gonzales went four innings allowing one run on two hits and three walks with three strikeouts.
 
The Sharks are back in action on Friday and Saturday of this week, as they take on cross-town rival Chaminade. The Silverswords are the host team despite the games being played at Howard Okita Field. The doubleheaders start at Noon each day.