HPU Baseball opens 2025 season with pair of shootout wins over Drury

The Hawai’i Pacific baseball team had no problem lighting up the scoreboard in the Sharks’ return to Hans L’Orange Field in Waipahu.

HPU started the 2025 season with a 2-0 record after defeating visiting Drury University twice in a double-header Saturday. The Sharks won the opening game, 12-6, before busting out the bats in a 19-9 win in the nightcap.

“Our boys came out ready to go,” said HPU coach Dane Fujinaka, who is entering his fourth season as the Sharks’ skipper. “Overall we competed on all three sides of it today.”

Senior Noah Blythe, a transfer from the University of Antelope Valley, was responsible for nearly a third of the total runs scored on Saturday with 10 RBIs on three doubles and two home runs.

As a designated hitter in the opening game, Blythe drove in the opening run in the bottom of the first on a double batting in the three-hole position. After Drury tied the game at 3-3 in the top of the second, Blythe delivered a two-run homer to regain the lead for HPU in the bottom of the third. The Panthers managed to tie the game at 5-5 in the fourth before Blythe gave the Sharks the lead for good in the bottom of the sixth with a double to score leadoff hitter Noah Hata.

In game two, Blythe hit a three-run bomb to highlight a six-run explosion that put the game out of reach in the bottom of the eighth.

“Every at bat it just felt like he was going to do something,” Fujinaka said of Blythe.

Fujinaka was quick to point out that multiple bats was hot as well — especially the newcomers.

Freshman Tyler Arnold hit the Sharks’ first homer of the season with a two-run blast to give HPU an early 3-0 lead in game one and also batted 3-for-6 with three runs scored in game two.

Arnold shifted from first base to third base in between games, which allowed for playing time for fellow freshman Ethan Murakoshi to play in game two. Murakoshi, who prepped at Mililani, scored three runs in game two and also delivered a two-run home run in the sixth to give HPU a 11-6 lead.

University of Hawai’i transfer Bronson Rivera also homered with a solo shot to lead off the bottom of the fourth in game two to give HPU the lead for good.

Andrew Nykoluk, a shortstop transfer from Saddleback Community College, scored four runs in game two while stealing two bases.

Grand Canyon University transfer Kan Taguchi took over designated hitter duties from Blythe in game two and went 4-for-5 with two RBIs and two runs scored.

Of the returnees, Skyler Agnew was solid in game one with a 3-for-4 performance at the plate while Hata scored four runs in the opening contest.

“We just had so many good at bats,” Fujinaka said. “You know, I think we can definitely swing it. I think the combination of the physicality that we have this year and also we can still run and we haven’t sacrificed any of our contact skills which we have been known for to good at the last three years. So I think when you add those three things together, it’s what you want.”

Jordan Otjen got the start in game one and went 3 and 1/3 innings before giving way to Shea Blanchard, who got the win by pitching 2 and 2/3 innings of scoreless ball with three strikeouts. Christian Padilla, Vicente Molina and Makana Quia each pitch an inning to close out game one with Quia delivering two strikeouts to earn the save.

In game two, Conor Hourigan struggled to find his slider early on before finding it down the stretch to pick up the win. Jacob Vanek pitched two innings after Hourigan before giving way to Enrique Espinoza and Ryan Inouye, who each pitch an inning apiece. Inouye, who is the Sharks’ all-time leader in saves, faced just three batters with one strikeout to end the game.

“I thought our bullpen was phenomenal,” Fujinaka said. “Our bullpen came in, they pounded the zone, they did their job. They limited big innings from happening.”

HPU will play another exhibition game against Drury on Monday before a three-game series against North Greenville University, the 2022 NCAA Division II champion, on Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. The Sharks travel to Westmont College to begin PacWest play the week after.

“Going into Monday, we certainly are looking at that game as a competitive baseball game,” said Fujinaka.

“I want to learn more about my team and what I have. A lot of guys that didn’t get to play today will get an opportunity on Monday to show us what they got and compete.

“But looking towards next week when North Greenville comes into town, I’m just excited for the opportunity to play a caliber team like them. You know, we talk about making a run in the NCAA tournament. Well, you know, there’s no better way to find out what you’re made of by facing a top five team in the country, so it’ll definitely get us prepared for conference play and really just find out what we’re made of and I’m excited for it.”