Hawaii Pacific baseball eliminated from PacWest tournament

The Hawaii Pacific baseball team’s Cinderella season came to a heartbreaking end in the PacWest championships on Thursday, as they fell to Point Loma in a hard-fought 6-4 defeat.

Despite a valiant effort, the Sharks were unable to hold onto a late lead against the favored Sea Lions, who ultimately secured the victory and advanced in the tournament. HPU’s season ended with a respectable 30-22 record, marking their first 30-win season since 2016 and their first appearance in the PacWest championships.

The game was a back-and-forth battle, with HPU jumping out to an early lead thanks to Skyler Agnew’s three-run homer in the third inning. However, Point Loma fought back and ultimately took the lead in the seventh inning, securing the win and ending HPU’s postseason hopes.

Despite the loss, there were standout performances from players on both teams, with Esai Santos leading the way for Point Loma with a game-tying double and a solo homer. On the HPU side, Nicholas Jio and Kota Suzuki also had strong showings at the plate.

While the loss was undoubtedly disappointing for the Sharks, they can hold their heads high after a successful season under coach Dane Fujinaka. As they look ahead to next season, HPU will undoubtedly be motivated to build on their success and make another run at the PacWest championships.