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Hawaii Pacific University Athletics

2023 PacWest Tourney
Guava Press -- Michael Sullivan
3
Winner Azusa Pacific APU-SB 31-23
2
HPU Sharks HPU 22-32
Winner
Azusa Pacific APU-SB
31-23
3
Final
2
HPU Sharks HPU
22-32
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Azusa Pacific APU-SB 0 0 2 0 0 0 1 3 6 2
HPU Sharks HPU 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 3 0

W: Sahhar, S. (7-7) L: Kerschbaum, Gianna (5-10) S: Korstrom, K. (2)

Game Recap: Softball |

Two Long Balls the Difference as Softball Falls 3-2 to #3 Azusa Pacific in PacWest Playoffs

LA MIRADA, Calif. - The Hawaii Pacific University softball team continued onto day two of the 2023 PacWest Conference Softball Championship Thursday afternoon, taking on Azusa Pacific University at Freedom Field. 

The #4 seeded Sharks (22-32, 17-15 PacWest) took an early lead, but two crucial home runs off the bats of the #3 seeded Cougars (31-23, 18-14 PacWest), helped APU claim a 3-2 victory over HPU. 

With a new day dawning, Hawaii Pacific looked to show a stronger overall performance. In the bottom of the second, they did just that. Some pain and patience would pay off as Kanoe Tanigawa took a pitch to the arm, while Savanna Salyer-Kovacs drew a 5-pitch walk. A sac bunt by Jewel Larson would move both runners into scoring position, before a big single up the middle off the bat of Alexis Oshiro brought home two runs.  

The lead would not last long, as Azusa Pacific player Carley Gay cranked a two-run long ball over the right center fence in the third, knotting the game up. 

Both team's pitching tightened up from there, as they entered the seventh inning still tied at 2-2. Unfortunately, APU player Caitlin DeCanio saw a pitch she liked and took it over the left field fence, propelling the Cougars ahead of the Sharks for the first time in the game. HPU were unable to produce a runner in the bottom half of the frame, as their season came to an end, falling 3-2 to Azusa Pacific. 

Tiari Hernandez, Tita Saunders, and Oshiro led the way with a hit each. Oshiro had the big hit in the second inning to give her the two RBIs. 

Outside of the two long balls, pitchers Hailey Yoshida and Gianna Kerschbaum were nearly unhittable. In total, they gave up six hits, all while striking out six batters together.

Up Next

That wraps up the year for the Sharks as they finish the 2023 season with a (22-32, 17-15 PacWest) record. They battled through adversity, starting the season with only four wins through 20 games, and turning it around to make the PacWest playoffs as the #4 seed. They send off an impactful senior class of Brandi Leong, Kanoe Tanigawa, Savanna Salyer-Kovacs, and Tita Saunders. 

Mahalo for tuning in and supporting both HPU baseball and softball through the 2023 season. Both teams will be ready to come back stronger for 2024. 
 
#GoSharks
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