IRVINE, Calif. – Hawai'i Pacific University ended the 2022 Concordia Kickoff Classic with a 9-1 loss in six innings to Cal State East Bay on Sunday afternoon at The Great Park.
 
The Sharks (4-5) took an early lead before the Pioneers (4-1) in each of the next five innings for the win.
 
Freshman Neva Poulin of Corona, Calif./Norco went 2-for-3 at the plate to lead the HPU offense, while junior Kanoe Tanigawa of Mililani, Hawai'i/Maryknoll was 1-for-3 with the Sharks only RBI.
 
Freshman righthander Taylor Thompson (3-2) of Phoenix, Ariz./Pinnacle took the loss allowing four runs on two hits and a walk with two strikeouts in two innings. Senior righty Malia Torres (1-3) of Danville, Calif./Monte Vista allowed four runs on five hits with a walk and three strikeouts in four innings of relief.
 
HPU grabbed the lead in the bottom of the first with junior Brandi Leong of Wahiawa, Hawai'i/Leilehua leading off by reaching on an error. She was sacrificed to second and scored on Tanigawa's RBI single up the middle. HPU got runners on the corners, but did not score again.
 
CSU East Bay then followed with a four-run second after a single and two hit batters loaded the bases before a game-tying walk and a three RBI triple put the Pioneers in front to stay at 4-1.
 
The Pioneers added single scores in the third, fourth and fifth innings, including a solo home run by Sydney Littles in the fifth. CSU East Bay picked up two unearned runs in the top of the six with a pair of two-out RBI singles for the 9-1 lead. HPU got a runner on in the bottom of the sixth, but left her stranded.
 
Anamaria Beard (2-0) picked up the win for the Pioneers in relief allowing three hits in four innings with two strikeouts.
 
The Sharks are idle until Saturday, Feb. 19 when they host Western Oregon in a non-conference doubleheader at Howard Okita Field. First pitch is set for Noon.