WAIPAHU, Hawai'i – Hawai'i Pacific University lost the first game of a non-conference doubleheader with Hawai'i Hilo 17-6 on Saturday at Hans L'Orange Park, then played three innings of a second non-conference game that won't be finished.
 
The Sharks (8-5) let a massive inning by the Vulcans (11-4) doom them in the first game. In the second game, HPU battled with UH Hilo for over two hours to get through the third inning before a travel curfew halted the contest. Because that non-conference affair didn't last the required five innings, it was ruled a no-contest despite the Sharks leading 11-9 at that point. The ruling voids all stats and results from the second game.
 
The Sharks and Vulcans each scored three runs in the first two innings. HPU scored twice in the first on an RBI single by senior D.J. Stephens of Nanakuli, Hawai'i/Saint Louis and an RBI ground out by junior Elijah Maris of Atlanta, Ga./Bloomington Ind. University that tied the game at 2-2.
 
After another UH Hilo run in the second, the Sharks took advantage of a line-drive off Vulcan pitcher Aaron Davies leg by sophomore Cole Kashimoto of Kaneohe, Hawai'i/Saint Louis. The ricochet went straight to former Shark, now Vulcan, Joe Gallagher at third who tried to throw out the speedy Kashimoto at first, but his throw was high and allowed sophomore Hayden Huff of
Riverside, Calif./Woodcrest Christian to advance to third on the error with none out. The Sharks hit into a double play on the next pitch, but allowed Kashimoto to score to again tie the game – this time at 3-3.
 
But HPU suffered a disastrous top of the fourth, as the Sharks allowed a bases-loaded two RBI single to start a nine-run inning for the Vulcans. Gallagher had a double and a triple in the inning, the latter with the bases-loaded to help bring in the nine runs.
 
The Sharks added one in the fifth and two in the seventh, but it didn't match the one in the seventh and four in the eight as UHH went on to the 17-6 triumph.
 
Sophomore reliever Mac Leisher of Honolulu/Saint Louis (0-1) suffered the loss in the parade of pitchers.
 
UHH's Davies (2-0) got the win going five innings.
 
Game two saw UH Hilo score nine runs in the first inning, and the Sharks return the favor with seven in the bottom of the one hour, 12 minute first inning.  The teams were scoreless in the second, but HPU broke out for four in the bottom of the third, highlighted by a bases-loaded, three-run triple by senior Braxton Wehrle of San Diego/Westview that helped put the Sharks up 11-9. But all of that was erased when the game failed to go five innings and was wiped out as a no contest.
 
HPU returns to PacWest Conference play next weekend when the Sharks host Holy Names for a pair of doubleheaders on Friday and Saturday. Both twinbills start at 2 p.m. at Hans L'Orange Park.