KANEOHE, Hawai'i – Hawai'i Pacific University was swept by Hawai'i Hilo 5-2 and 5-0 to open PacWest Conference play on Saturday afternoon at Howard Okita Field.
 
The Sharks (6-9, 0-2) had a late start in game one and couldn't recover eventually falling to the Vulcans (4-2, 2-0) 5-2. Game two followed suit with the Vulcans taking control early and never letting the Sharks hit the board.
 
UH Hilo took advantage of a shaky start from the Sharks scoring four runs in the opening frame on three hits and an HPU fielding error.
 
HPU finally hit the board in the fourth with a two out single by freshman catcher Savanna Salyer-Kovacs of Camarillo, Calif./Camarillo followed by another base hit by junior Brandi Leong of Wahiawa, Hawai'i/Leilehua. Noel "Tita" Saunders of Pearl City, Hawai'i/Pearl City scored Salyer-Kovacs as she attempted the extra base run distracting Hilo away from home plate.
 
The Sharks picked up another run in the fifth on three base hits making it 4-2.
 
A final run by Hilo in the sixth finalized the game at 5-2.
 
HPU's freshman Taylor Thompson of Phoenix, Ariz./Pinnacle threw the full game allowing five runs (three earned) with nine hits and four strikeouts. With the loss, she moves to 4-4 on the year.
 
Hilo's Sara Bhatt threw the complete game allowing two earned runs on 12 hits and three walks. Her win moves her to 3-0 on the year.
 
The second verse was much like the first with the Vulcans picking up three runs in the opening frame on four hits.
 
They padded their lead with a run a piece in the second and seventh inning for a final score of 5-0.
Between the two games, the Sharks were plagued by seven total error in comparison to UHH's one error in game two.
 
Senior pitcher Malia Torres of Danville, Calif./Monte Vista pitched for all seven innings giving up five runs (four earned) on ten hits with three strikeouts. In taking the loss, she moves to 2-5 on the season.
 
The Vulcan's Alexis Lacy started the game with a 6.12 ERA and threw all seven innings for a complete game shutout. She allowed eight hits with just a single walk and improved her ERA to just 2.25 it was her first win of the year.
 
The Sharks will have some time to adjust as they play Dominican on March 9th in a double-header. The first pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Howard Okita Field.