WAIPAHU, Hawai'i – Hawai'i Pacific University scored in its final at-bat in both ends of Thursday's PacWest Conference doubleheader, beating Academy of Art 11-10 and 3-2 at Hans L'Orange Park.
 
The Sharks (17-16, 11-11) plated three runs in the bottom of the ninth to beat the Urban Knights (9-26, 3-17), then scored the tiebreaking run in the bottom of the sixth in the seven-inning nightcap to sweep the four-game series with ART U.
 
Redshirt sophomore Nicholas Jio of San Diego/Scripps Ranch came up big for the Sharks, going 4-for-10 at the plate with three RBIs, including both game-winners. Junior Richard Higa of Honolulu/University Lab went 4-for-7 with a double, a triple and two RBIs.
 
Sophomore Max Beaulieu of Rancho Cucamonga, Calif./Rancho Cucamonga (2-0) picked up the first game win in relief, going 1.2 innings allowing two runs on three hits. Sophomore starter Mac Leisher of Honolulu/Saint Louis went four innings allowing three runs, two earned, on five hits with a walk and five strikeouts. Senior reliever Cole Mayeshiro of Mililani, Hawai'i/Mililani hurled 3.1 innings, giving up five runs on six hits and a walk with three strikeouts.
 
Sophomore reliever Eddie Lee of Honolulu/Kalani (3-1) picked up the win with a perfect sixth inning, that included a strikeout. Sophomore Makana Quia of Waipahu, Hawai'i/Waipahu notched his fourth save allowing one hit in the seventh and getting two ground outs and a fly out. Sophomore starter Jack O'Brien of San Diego/Westview got no decision after throwing five innings allowing two runs on three hits with three walks and five strikeouts.
 
The first game saw HPU take strong leads early, only to lose the lead late before the heroics in the bottom of the ninth.
 
After allowing a run in the top of the first to the Urban Knights, the Sharks countered with three runs in the bottom of the inning with an RBI double from sophomore Cole Kashimoto of Kaneohe, Hawai'i/Saint Louis, an RBI single from senior Braxton Wehrle of Las Vegas, Nev./Bishop Gorman and an RBI ground out from freshman T.J. Smith of Sacramento, Calif./Laguna Creek. ART U came back with single scores in the second and third to tie the contest.
 
In the bottom of the third, HPU added a two RBI single from Higa, then posted runs in the fourth, fifth and sixth. But ART U added a run in the fifth, and in the seventh the Urban Knights got a single before Ty Conrad blasted a two-run home run to trail 8-6.
 
In the eighth, ART U got a two run double and another RBI double to retake the lead at 9-8, the added another run on a sac fly after a triple for a 10-8 advantage.
 
But the Sharks had the last opportunity. With one out, Wehrle was hit by a pitch and Higa singled. Freshman Mackenzie Higuchi of Aiea, Hawai'i/Mid-Pacific Institute laced a two-RBI double to left center to tie the game, then went to third on a passed ball. After an intentional walk to put runners on the corners, Jio sent a grounder to short with Higuchi breaking for the plate. The ball bounced off the Urban Knights shortstop for the game-winning RBI and an 11-10 win.
 
ART U's Collin Carriger (3-6) got his fifth complete game to go with the loss. Carriger allowed all 11 runs, eight earned, on 15 hits and two walks with three strikeouts.
 
The seven-inning second game looked like it might go extra innings. HPU got the first two runs in the contest, with a Smith RBI single in the first and an RBI groundout by sophomore Jonathan Lucio of Granada Hills, Calif./Kennedy in the second.
 
O'Brien allowed only three hits, but two were solo home runs by the Urban Knights. Ryan Gamboa belted one in the fourth – the first hit O'Brien allowed, then Charles Morgan ripped another in the fifth to tie the game at 2-2.
 
The Sharks made their move in the bottom of the sixth. After an out, Higa walked, the got to third on two wild pitches. After a strikeout and a walk, Jio stepped up to rip a shot down the third base line for an RBI single.
 
Quia came in and allowed a leadoff single, but retired the rest of the line up in order for the save.
 
Cannon Secrist (3-7) took the loss, going all six innings allowing the three runs on six hits with two walks and six strikeouts.
 
The Sharks celebrated their departing seniors following the game and are now idle until Friday, April 8, when they visit the Big Island to take on Hawai'i Hilo in a five-game series with the first two games slated as PacWest contests. Next Friday's game has a first pitch time of 6 p.m. at Wong Stadium.