IRVINE, Calif. – For the second straight day, Hawai'i Pacific University gave No. 1 Concordia Irvine a run for their money, but the nation's top ranked Division II team came away with a 1-0 eight inning win in game one and a 3-1 triumph in game two of a PacWest Conference doubleheader at Eagles Field.
The Sharks (14-21, 8-14) kept the No. 1 Eagles (34-0, 22-0) in their crosshairs for the entire first game going for eight innings with just two hits on each side, and game two saw an equally tight affair.
Freshman
Taylor Thompson of Phoenix, Ariz./Pinnacle (8-11) threw an incredible 7.1 innings against the unbeaten Eagles. The right-hander only allowed two hits, but one of them was the walk-off home run in the bottom of the eighth by CUI's Rylie Rhor. Thompson allowed six walks and struck out six in recording her sixth straight 1-run loss on this road trip, the third by a 1-0 score and second in extra innings.
The Eagles Katlin Entrup (14-0) got the win in game one, throwing the final two innings while striking out three. Courtney Koelmans saw six frames allowing a hit and a walk with a strikeout.
In game two the Eagles started off with a single run in the first on three hits and a sacrifice fly.
In the third inning, the Sharks were called on an interference to interrupt the tying run, but they were able to find it elsewhere in the sixth frame. Junior
Brandi Leong of Wahiawa, Hawai'i/Leilehua started it off with a bunt single, advanced to second on a ground out, and scored on an Eagle fielding error tying the game at one a piece.
Unfortunately, CUI responed with two more runs in the bottom of the sixth on three hits and a sac bunt RBI sealing the deal at 3-1.
Senior
Malia Torres of Danville, Calif./Monte Vista (6-10) allowed three runs on nine hits and a walk with three strikeouts in taking the loss.
CUI's Rae Flores struck out five in the complete game giving up an unearned run on three hits and a walk moving to 7-0 on the year.
HPU heads to Turlock, Calif., to compete in non-conference play in the Turlock CVB Tournament of Champions. Their first of five games on the weekend pits the Sharks against San Francisco State on Friday at the Pedretti Sports Complex. First pitch is slated for 11:00 a.m. HST (2 p.m. PDT).
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