FRESNO, Calif. - The Hawaii Pacific University baseball team took to the road for the first time this year. They visited Fresno Pacific University for a PacWest conference double-header matchup Friday afternoon at FPU Diamond.
The Sharks (10-17, 6-11 PacWest) ran into a hot hitting Sunbirds (13-15, 7-6 PacWest) team, falling in both matches by a total of 13 runs.
Game One
Four out of the first six batters for Fresno Pacific reached on base in the first inning, resulting in three early runs for the Sunbirds.
Hawaii Pacific responded in the following half inning. With two outs, back-to-back doubles by Noah Hata and Travis Johnson put HPU on the board. Johnson then tried to score on a single by Cole Kashimoto but was gunned down by the right fielder at home.
FPU pounced once more in the seventh inning, adding another three runs, capped off by a two-run shot by Miguel Ortiz. Another pair of runs in the bottom of the eighth saw Fresno Pacific extend their lead to 8-1.
Not to go out quietly, the Sharks produced their best offensive inning of the game in the ninth. With D.J. Stephens reaching on error, Johnson was able to bring him across home plate.
Continuing into the inning, Nicholas Jio and Kota Suzuki each collected a base hit to load the bases. Tejean Smith then drew a 5-pitch walk to score HPU's third run of the game, but that would be all. The Sunbirds finally recorded the third out to take game one 8-3.
Seven Sharks earned a hit, while Johnson and Kashimoto led the way with a pair each. Johnson had two runs batted in and Smith had one.
The HPU pitching staff struck out two batters while giving up six earned runs.
Game Two
This time around it was Hawaii Pacific who put up a three spot in the first inning. Cole Kashimoto and Nicholas Jio got on base before Kota Suzuki moved them over on a sac bunt. Fortunately for the Sharks, a pair of errors by FPU's shortstop allowed Kashimoto, Jio, and Tejean Smith to score.
The bottom half of the inning saw the Sunbirds snag their own run. A walk, stolen base, and error helped Fresno Pacific chip into the early deficit.
That small momentum FPU had in the bottom of the first, transferred into the next inning. With two outs and the bases loaded, two big hits plated four more runs for the Sunbirds to take a 5-3 lead.
Although it was looking bleak, the offense made sure to pull through for the pitching staff. Jio opened the third inning with a triple down the right field line. Back-to-back four pitch walks for Suzuki and Smith loaded the bases. Richard Higa was then pelted on the first pitch of his at bat to bring in a run.
One out later, Noah Hata sent a ball deep enough to score Suzuki on a sacrifice fly. Finally, D.J. Stephens smoked a double down the left field line for two RBIs to flip the game one again, giving the Sharks a 7-5 lead.
But the game of push and pull continued. Three hit by pitches, three walks, and three wild pitches resulted in an inning where the Sunbirds were able to score three runs, all without needing a hit. After three innings, the score was now 8-7 in favor of FPU.
Fresno Pacific's bats began to heat up again, as they continued to pile on the runs. They added two in the fourth, four in the fifth, and one in the sixth. They were able to produce a run in every inning to take the second game 15-7 over Hawaii Pacific.
Jio and Stephens led the way with a pair of hits each. Stephens also batted in two runs. Meanwhile, the pitching staff collected four strikeouts in the second game.
Up Next
The Sharks and Sunbirds will battle once again tomorrow, April 1. First pitch is set for 12:00 p.m. PST at FPU Diamond.
