HONOLULU  – The Fresno Pacific University baseball team stumbled on Thursday night, falling 7-2 to Hawai'i Pacific in the opener of a four-game PacWest Conference series. The Sunbirds have now dropped their last five games in Honolulu and slide to 10-11 in league play this spring.

After starter Tyler Van Stone retired the Sunbirds in order in the first inning, HPU's offense went to work early, scoring three runs in the home half. FPU was able to scratch across their first run of the game in the fourth before plating one more an inning later, but the Sharks tallied a score in four consecutive frames to earn the victory.

Eddie Sievers and Hunter Villanueva each drove in a run as five Sunbirds contributed a hit on Thursday, including four that went for extra bases. Michael Warkentin's fifth-inning double put him on base for the 19th consecutive game, the most of any FPU hitter this season.   

Starting pitcher Trent Ashford pitched into the sixth inning but took the loss after allowing six runs on nine hits while fanning five and walking three. Zach Fleeman and Carson Schellenberg each recorded a pair of outs before closer Matt Bergandi delivered a scoreless bottom of the eighth on the mound.

For the Sharks, Van Stone racked up ninestrikeouts while going all nine innings for his first complete game of the year. Infielders Ryan Torres-Torioka and Wyatt Hoppie each went for three base hits, with the latter hitting his third home run of the year in the fifth inning.

The Sunbirds and Sharks are back in action on Friday, when they will play the second game of the series. First pitch from Honolulu's Hans L'Orange Park is schedule for 9:00 p.m. PST.