IRVINE, Calif. –– The Hawaii Pacific University softball team (0-4) continued their play in the Concordia Kickoff Classic Saturday afternoon against Colorado Christian University and California State University Monterey Bay. Colorado Christian took the first game 6-0, while Monterey Bay won the second game 7-4. The teams continued play at the Orange County Great Park in Irvine, California.
Game One
Hits were hard to come by to start the game, with both teams combining for only three hits total through the first three innings. However, in the bottom of the fourth, sophomore Jewel Larson and freshman Emily Wheat connected on back-to-back singles to get the Sharks in scoring position with one out. Both runners would move up a base, but could not reach home plate as the inning came to an end.
In the top of the sixth, an explosion of hitting power came out from the side of Colorado Christian, who scored six runs on five hits in the inning. HPU were never able to find another hit after the fourth inning, falling 6-0 to CCS.
Wheat was a bright spot in the lineup, finding two hits in her three at bats. Sophomore Taylor Thompson was the pitcher for all 21 outs, despite the tough sixth inning, Thompson was able to strike out ten batters, one shy of tying her career-high.
Game Two
Monterey State jumped ahead 2-0 early in the second inning. However, the Sharks would cut into the lead with a pair of singles from senior Savanna Sayler-Kovacs and freshman Alexis Oshiro. Freshman Emily Wheat then hit a sacrifice fly to score freshman Kaylyn Dosch, who ran for Kovacs.
Unfortunately, the one run deficit soon turned to five in the bottom of the third, as the Cougars pounced on the Sharks, finding four hits in the inning. Kovacs singled in senior Kanoe Tanigawa for a second run in the fourth. Hawaii Pacific did give a scare in the seventh, scoring two, but they eventually fell 7-4 to CSUMB.
Freshman Gianna Kerschbaum got the start in the circle, pitching six innings while surrendering six earned runs. Meanwhile, Kovacs and Oshiro finished the game with two hits each.
Up Next
The Sharks have one final matchup in the Concordia Kickoff Classic against the Cal State San Marcos Cougars tomorrow, February 5. First pitch is set for 12:00 p.m. PST in the Orange County Great Park.
#GoSharks