WAIPAHU, Hawai'i – Hawai'i Pacific University survived a late threat by Holy Names to split their PacWest Conference doubleheader on Saturday at Hans L'Orange Park.
 
The Sharks (9-8, 3-3) beat the Hawks (12-9, 5-3) 6-3 in the seven-inning second game after a heartbreaking 8-7 loss in the ninth inning of game one.
 
HPU held a 7-4 lead with two out in the top of the seventh with two Hawks on base, only to see HNU get a bases-loaded walk, a two RBI single and a Shark throwing error to give the Hawks four runs and the lead 8-7. Then in the bottom of the inning the loaded the bases, but a groundout ended the contest.
 
In the second game, HPU spotted Holy Names three runs in the first two innings before tying the game with single runs in the second, third and fourth innings. In the bottom of the fifth, chalked up three runs to take the lead, then kept the Hawks off the board.
 
Sophomore right hander Makana Quia (1-1) of Waipahu, Hawai'i/Waipahu picked up his first win of the season in relief, allowing just one hit in four innings with two walks and three strikeouts. Freshman Izaiah Ayala of Diamond Bar, Calif./Bishop Amat earned his first save when he came in with two on in the top of the seventh and struck out the side to preserve the 6-3 win.
 
Sophomore lefty Giancarlo Cortez of San Diego/St. Augustine (3-1) suffered his first loss of the season, allowing five runs, four earned, on five hits with four walks and five strikeouts. All four runs in the ninth were belonged to Cortez. Sophomore starter Jack O'Brien of San Diego/Westview pitched five innings allowing three hits, and a walk with five strikeouts, but the Hawks scored three unearned runs in the first two innings. Sophomore Eddie Lee of Honolulu/Kalani, who was in line for a win, pitched one inning with a hit and a strikeout.
 
Junior Richard Higa of Honolulu/University Lab went 3-for-7 on the afternoon, with two doubles, an RBI and a run scored. Senior Braxton Wehrle of Las Vegas, Nev./Bishop Gorman was 2-for-4 with a triple and two runs scored. Senior D.J. Stephens of Nanakuli, Hawai'i/Saint Louis went 2-for-6 with a double, two RBIs, and three runs scored. Freshman MacKenzee Higuchi of Aiea, Hawai'i/Mid-Pacific Institute recorded three RBIs on the day.
 
The Sharks grabbed an early lead in the opener on an RBI single from Freshman T.J. Smith of Sacramento, Calif./Laguna Creek. But the Hawks countered with two runs in the fourth and another in the fifth to hold a 3-1 lead after five.
 
In the sixth, Higuchi collected an RBI single, followed by a Higa RBI double and a sacrifice fly from sophomore Jonathan Lucio of Grenada Hills, Calif./Kennedy to take a 4-3 advantage. Then in the seventh, the Sharks added two more runs on a wild pitch that scored sophomore Cole Kashimoto of Kanehoe, Hawai'i/Saint Louis and a sac fly from Higuchi for a 6-3 lead.
 
In the eighth, HNU got an RBI single to slice the lead to 6-4, but the Sharks countered in the bottom of the eighth when Wehrle tripled and scored on a Lucio ground out to lead 7-4.
 
But in the top of the ninth, Cortez got a foul out and a strikeout sandwiched around a single and a walk. After loading the bases on a walk, Cortez issued another walk to score one run. He was lifted for junior Markus Ramos of Ewa Beach, Hawai'i/Campbell. The first batter sent a single through the left side, just out of the reach of Smith a shortstop. Two more runs scored, the second just beating a throw from Kashimoto. But HNU pinch runner Patrick Barnum went for third on the throw to the plate. The throw sailed high into left field and Barnum scored the go ahead run. Ramos got a ground out to end the inning with the Hawks now leading 8-7.
 
In the bottom of the ninth, the Sharks loaded the bases with two out, but a game-ending groundout followed for the Sharks loss.
 
In the second game, HPU spotted HNU three runs in the first inning-and-a half before chipping back.
 
In the bottom of the second, Stephens got a sacrifice fly to score one run. In the third, Higa scored another run on a double, a throwing error allowing him to go to third base and he scored on a wild pitch. The Sharks tied the game in the fourth when Stephens singled, stole second and third and scored on a Higuchi RBI groundout.
 
The Sharks broke the game open in the fifth by loading the bases with one out. Stephens RBI fielder's choice broke the tie, then Kashimoto's two RBI single gave HPU a 6-3 lead.
 
Quia retired the side in the sixth, but allowed a single and a walk in the top of the seven. That's when Ayala came in and struck out the next three batters to save the Sharks win.
 
The Sharks play again in a set of mid-week PacWest doubleheaders at Hans L'Orange Park when Fresno Pacific comes calling on Wednesday and Thursday. First pitch is set for 2 p.m. for both twinbills.