Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 HONOLULU, Hawai`i—Vulcan bats, which have been so potent for most of the season, went silent today at a bad time as Hawai`i Hilo lost a pair of games to rival Hawai`i Pacific, 8-2 and 4-1 at the Sand Island Softball Fields.

The Vulcans, who began the day in third place in the Pacific West Conference, dropped into fifth with the pair of losses.  They are now 23-13 on the year and 11-7 in conference play, while the Sharks improved to 17-14 overall and an even 10-10 in the PacWest.

UH Hilo, who averages six runs a game, scored just three runs in two games today and had just nine total hits.

In the first game, HPU's Jordan Curry slowed the Vulcans and got plenty of help from her offense.

The Sharks built a 6-0 lead through four innings. They chased Vulcan ace Cyanne Fernandez after two innings, with Leah Gonzales throwing the final four stanzas.

The visitors finally got on the board in the fifth inning after Skylar Thomas singled, moved to second on an error, and scored on Mari Kawano's base hit. Later in the inning, Kiarra Lincoln brought home a run on a ground out. But that's all Curry would allow. She went the distance, allowing only six hits, no earned runs, one walk and she struck out five. The six hits were by six different Vulcans and were all singles. She improved to 3-5 on the year with the win. Fernandez dropped to 14-5 this season.

In the second game, the Sharks' Gabriella Howack was even  better, after getting through the first inning.

In the first, Kawano led off the inning with a walk, stole second base and moved to third  on a wild pitch. Brinell Kaleikini then brought her home with a single to make it 1-0, Vulcans.

That lead held with Isabelle Mejia in the pitcher's circle until the third inning. Three walks loaded  the bases for the Sharks, and then their bats went to work. RBI singles by Sienna Dias and Noelani Boyer brought in two runs and then Cieana Curran cleared the bags with a two-run double. Curran also had a two-run, two-bagger in the first game.

Gonzales  came into the game and closed the door the rest of the way, but at the same time the Vulcans couldn't solve Howack. She allowed just three hits and walked two in improving to 4-3 on the year. Mejia took the loss (3-5). Gonzales pitched three innings and didn't give up a run, didn't walk a batter and gave up only two hits. She struck out two.

The Vulcans will get another shot at the Sharks while the memory is still fresh, hosting Hawaii Pacific next Saturday. Start time for the doubleheader is noon.