Sharks softball secures first PacWest series victory of the season
BY MICHAEL LASQUERO | HSRN
PUBLISHED APRIL 4, 2024
KANEOHE — Thing are starting to turn around for the Hawai’i Pacific softball team.
After recording back-to-back wins over Academy of Art on a Tuesday double-header, the Sharks secured their first PacWest series victory of the year when they defeated the Urban Knights by a score of 8-2 in the first game at Howard A. Okita Field Wednesday afternoon.
The six-run win was the largest margin of victory of the season by HPU (7-17 overall, 3-9 conference).
The Sharks broke open the game with a five-run rally in the bottom of the third that was highlighted by Tiari Hernandez’s first home run of the year. Her blast to left field went 200 yards and bounced off the top of the fence to give HPU a commanding 7-2 lead.
Pitcher Gianna Kerschbaum (2-5) picked up the complete game victory while throwing three strikeouts and scattering four hits across seven innings.
The Urban Knights (8-28, 4-18) snapped a 22-game losing streak in game two with a 5-3 win over the Sharks, but the home team gave the visitors everything they could handle in an extra-inning game that went nine frames.
HPU faced a two-run deficit for majority of the game until the sixth inning when Kerschbaum drove in Hoku Ching and Jewel Larson to tie the game at 3.
The Sharks will now go on the road in a 14-game road trip with stops in California and Hilo before wrapping regular season play against Chaminade on April 27 in the program’s final games in Kaneohe.
GAME ONE
GAME TWO
Return of the King: Punahou reigns in boys volleyball once again
 Return of the King: Punahou reigns in boys volleyball once again BY MICHAEL LASQUERO | HSRNPUBLISHED MAY 11, 2025HONOLULU – Death, taxes and the Punahou boys volleyball team winning a state title. The Buffanblu completed an undefeated season with...
Saint Louis Crusaders are baseball champions for first time since 2014
 Saint Louis Crusaders are baseball champions for first time since 2014 BY MICHAEL LASQUERO | HSRNPUBLISHED MAY 11, 2025WAILUKU – The koa trophy returns to the slopes of Kalaepohaku. Saint Louis won its first baseball championship since 2014 with...
Punahou powers past Kamehameha for 16th girls water polo state title
Punahou powers past Kamehameha for 16th girls water polo state title BY PAUL BRECHT | HONOLULUPUBLISHED MAY 10, 2025HONOLULU – Sprint out at the start and never look back. The Punahou Buffanblu varsity girls water polo team completed the climb...
Radford makes history with first-ever boys volleyball state title
 Radford makes history with first-ever boys volleyball state title BY MICHAEL LASQUERO | HSRNPUBLISHED MAY 10, 2025HONOLULU – For the first time in school history, the Radford Rams boys volleyball team is bringing home a state championship. Behind...
UCLA ends magical Hawai’i season in national semifinals
UCLA ends magical Hawai’i season in national semifinals BY PAUL BRECHT | HONOLULUPUBLISHED MAY 10, 2025After a year of growth, the Rainbow Warrior run has come to an end. A youthful University of Hawai’i men’s volleyball team saw the season...
Damien Monarchs make return to the top of Division II baseball
 Damien Monarchs make return to the top of Division II baseball BY MICHAEL LASQUERO | HSRNPUBLISHED MAY 10, 2025HONOLULU – Call it a Damien dynasty. The Monarchs captured their third Division II baseball state title in four years after holding off...
Flynn’s double hat trick leads Stanford over Hawai’i in national semifinal
Flynn’s double hat trick leads Stanford over Hawai’i in national semifinal BY PAUL BRECHT | HONOLULUPUBLISHED MAY 10, 2025On the doorstep, still waiting to break the door down. The University of Hawai’i women’s water polo team saw the 2025 season...
Mililani Trojans add fifth softball championship to collection
 Mililani Trojans add fifth softball championship to collection BY MICHAEL LASQUERO | HSRNPUBLISHED MAY 9, 2025HONOLULU – Trojan town is still title town. Mililani successfully defending its Division I softball crown with a power-infused 10-7 win...
Kapaa Warriors secures Division II softball dynasty
 Kapaa Warriors secures Division II softball dynasty BY MICHAEL LASQUERO | HSRNPUBLISHED MAY 9, 2025HONOLULU – There was no rebuild for the Kapa’a softball team in 2025. The Warriors repeated as Division II state champions after rallying from a...
Hawai’i stuns top-seeded Cal State Fullerton, advances to Big West semifinals
Hawai’i stuns top-seeded Cal State Fullerton, advances to Big West semifinals BY PAUL BRECHT | HONOLULUPUBLISHED MAY 8, 2025There’s magic in these bats. The University of Hawai’i softball team pulled off another spectacular come-from-behind...