IRVINE, Calif. – Hawai'i Pacific University dropped two heartbreakers in opening day action at the Concordia Kickoff Classic, falling to Sonoma State and Cal State Dominguez Hills by identical 4-3 scores on Friday at The Great Park.
 
The Sharks (3-3), the visiting team in both contests, saw both the Seawolves (1-0) and the Toros (2-1) break 3-3 ties with the game-winning run in the bottom of the seventh.
 
In game one, Sonoma State jumped out to a 3-0 lead before the Sharks came back to tie the game with a three-run fourth. In the second game, HPU went up 2-0 before the Toros got a three-run homer. The Sharks followed with a run in the fifth.
 
HPU was led at the plate by freshman Tiari Hernandez of Waipahu, Hawai'i/Pearl City that recorded a 4-for-7 day, including a 3-for-3 performance with two triples against CSUDH. Sophomore Poliahu Aina of Kailua, Hawai'i/Kamehameha-Kapalama and junior Brandi Leong of Wahiawa, Hawai'i/Leilehua went 3-for-7 on the day with Aina adding an RBI.
 
The Sharks tied the first contest by scoring on an RBI sac bunt by sophomore Hoku Ching of Honolulu/Roosevelt, an RBI sacrifice fly by freshman Jewel Larson of Waipahu, Hawai'i/Pearl City and an RBI single by senior Malia Torres of Danville, Calif./Monte Vista to tie the contest at 3-3.
 
But in the bottom of the seventh, the Seawolves a got a leadoff single by Courtney Jack, who then advanced on a sacrifice and an infield single. Jack scored the winning run on a fielding error with the bases-loaded.
 
Torres (1-2) took the hard-luck complete game loss, allowing four runs (three earned) on six hits with a strikeout and two walks. Sonoma State's Camille Rodrigues picked up the win in relief.
 
In the second game, Aina tripled to lead off the fourth inning, and scored on an RBI single from junior Kanoe Tanigawa of Mililani, Hawai'i/Maryknoll. Tanigawa later scored on a throwing error for the 2-0 lead.
 
CSUDH took the lead on a three-run homer by Kaylee Hull, only to have the Sharks respond by a triples by Leong and Aina to tie the game at 3-3.
 
A leadoff walk to start the bottom of the bottom of the seventh for the Toros. HPU chalked up two flyouts only to have a seeing-eye Toro single drive in the winning run for the 4-3 triumph.
 
Freshman righthander Taylor Thompson (2-1) of Phoenix, Ariz./Pinnacle suffered her first loss of the season, allowing four runs on five hits in 6.2 innings with two strikeouts and two walks.
 
The Sharks continue play in the Concordia Kickoff Classic on Saturday when they face Northwest Nazarene at Noon HST (2 p.m. PST) and Cal State Monterey Bay at 5:15 p.m. HST (7:15 p.m. PST) at The Great Park.