ISLE FILE
Asher hits 3-run homer; HPU sweeps in baseball
Advertiser Staff
Aaron Asher hit a three-run home run and Hawai'i Pacific snuffed out a seventh-inning rally to defeat Grand Canyon, 7-6, in the second game of a Pacific West Conference baseball doubleheader sweep yesterday at Phoenix.
Caelan O'Meara pitched a three-hit complete game in HPU's 4-1 victory in the first game.
Hawai'i Pacific (27-16 overall, 13-9 PacWest) needs to sweep Grand Canyon (13-34, 7-14) today to gain a share of the PacWest title with Dixie State.
Asher hit his 10th homer of the season in the first inning of the second game and added to his school record with his 20th career homer. He went 2 for 4. Blake Amaral went 3 for 5 and Bas Nooij was 3 for 4, including a double, for HPU.
With the Sea Warriors leading 7-5, Grand Canyon's Austin Stockfisch hit a homer to open the bottom of the seventh. After two flyouts, John Stanko and Jeff Mutchler hit consecutive singles. But Joey Bristyan grounded into a fielder's choice to end the game.
In the first game, O'Meara struck out three and walked two in seven innings.
HPU scored two runs in the first on consecutive doubles by Amaral and Asher and a triple by Cheynne Hirota.
In the sixth, Hirota doubled and later scored when Lester Akeo reached on an error by the third baseman. Akeo scored on a double by Alex Agortsas.
SOFTBALL
HPU CHASES TITLE
Hawai'i Pacific heads into the final weekend of the regular season needing one win to clinch its third straight Pacific West softball championship.
The Sea Warriors play noon doubleheaders at the University of Hawai'i-Hilo today and tomorrow.
