HONOLULU – Hawai'i Pacific University scored in its final inning in both games of a doubleheader sweep over PacWest Hawai'i leader Hawai'i Hilo, winning both contests 5-4 at Les Murakami Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
 
The Sharks (6-16, 6-12) have now won four of their last five meetings against the Vulcans (12-9, 12-6).
 
Freshman first baseman Noah Blythe of Santa Clarita, Calif./Canyon was the offensive star of the afternoon for the Sharks, 4-for-8 with a double, three RBIs and two runs scored, including a 3-for-4 performance with the game-winning double and two RBIs in the second game. Sophomore second baseman/shortstop Richard Higa of Honolulu/University Lab went 3-for-8 with a double, a triple, two RBIs and two runs scored.
 
The winning pitchers both won in relief. Freshman righthander Gavin Pringle (2-1) of Duncan, B.C., Canada/Cowichan Secondary, hurled the last three innings of shutout ball, with two hits and two strikeouts. He was in relief of sophomore righthanded starter Cole Mayeshiro of Mililani, Hawai'i/Mililani who was charged with four runs, two earned, on three hits with two walks and three strikeouts in six full innings.
 
Game two saw freshman righty Tyler DeYoung (1-0) of Canyon Country, Calif./Canyon get a win in the first decision of his career as he recorded out on the only two batters he faced in the top of the sixth inning, one a strikeout. Senior righty Grant Dragmire of Elk Grove, Calif./Bradshaw Christian notched his fourth save as he shut down the Vulcans with a strikeout as part of a 3-up, 3-down seventh. Starting freshman Nico Gomez of Stockton, Calif./Saint Mary's HS, allowed three runs on one hit with one walk and two strikeouts in three innings, with sophomore Stone Parker of Kailua, Hawai'i/Kailua allowing one run on one hit with a walk and two strikeouts in 2.1 innings, while redshirt freshman Edward Lee of Honolulu/Kalani walked the two batters he faced.
 
HPU scored first in the opening contest, as junior centerfielder Diego Harris of Los Angeles, Calif./Crespi reached on a single, moved to second on a ground out and stole third ahead of Blythe's RBI single. Junior Braxton Wehrle of Las Vegas, Nev./Bishop Gorman followed with an RBI triple for a 2-0 HPU lead.
 
The Vulcans tied the game in the top of the fifth thanks to a pair of hit batsmen and a fielding error to load the bases ahead of an RBI walk to Chris Aubort. An RBI single followed that tied the game.
 
In the bottom of the fifth senior designated hitter Micah Layosa of Lihue, Hawai'i/Kauai was hit by a pitch and Higa smacked an RBI triple down the right field line, and scored on an RBI grounder by Blythe for a 4-2 advantage.
 
But the Vulcans came back in the seventh with an RBI double and an RBI sacrifice squeeze bunt to tie the game 4-4.
 
But in the bottom of the eighth, Higa doubled and went to third on a passed ball and scored on a wild pitch to give HPU the lead.
 
In the top of the ninth, Pringle allowed an infield single off a rocket liner, then got Vulcan hot bat Trey Yukumoto to ground into an game-ending 4-6-3 double play for the win.
 
UH Hilo's Brandyn Lee-Lehano (3-1) picked up his first loss of the season, despite allowing an unearned run on one hit with a walk and two strikeouts in one inning.
 
Game two saw UH Hilo score first on an infield grounder after two walks to open the contest.
 
HPU answered with a run in the second after a two-out RBI single from Layosa, then claimed the lead in the third on a sacrifice fly from senior third baseman Joe Gallagher of Sacramento, Calif./Del Campo for a 2-1 lead.
 
The Vulcans returned the favor with two runs in the fourth when Yukumoto made HPU pay for two walks that opened the inning with an RBI triple for a 3-2 lead. UHH added another run in the sixth on a bases-loaded wild pitch to make it 4-2.
 
HPU responded big in the bottom of the sixth of the seven inning game. Back-to-back doubles by Gallagher and Stephens plated one run, and tied the game on a bases-loaded RBI fielder's choice by Higa to tie the game. Blythe followed with an RBI double to left center for the go-ahead run and a 5-4 lead.
 
Dragmire came in relief to start the top of the seventh, sending the Vulcans down 1-2-3 with a strikeout of catcher Kekaulike Kaula to end the game.
 
Vulcan relief ace John Kea (1-1) suffered his first loss while blowing the save, allowing two runs on two hits with a walk in an inning of work. Aaron Davies went five innings allowing three runs of five hits with three walks and three strikeouts.
 
The two teams close the five-game series with a 9-7 doubleheader on Sunday at Murakami Stadium. HPU will celebrate Senior Day following the second game of the day.