HPU rally comes up short in series opener against Azusa Pacific, 10-5

HONOLULU – Fought till the very end.

The Hawai’i Pacific University softball team could not crack the pitching of Maddy Debs as the Sharks dropped their series opener against Azusa Pacific University, 10-5, Monday afternoon in the first game of a doubleheader at Sand Island State Recreation Area.

It was HPU’s fourth straight loss in a row as it dropped to 8-14. The series against the Cougars will conclude Tuesday afternoon at 3 p.m.

Freshman shortstop Taryn Hirano was a bright spot for the Sharks, scoring HPU’s first run of the game in the bottom of the fifth after she turned a single into an inside-the-park home run thanks to a APU error. She also had an RBI triple in the bottom of the seventh to help HPU score four runs in the final inning of play.