BASE: Storm Swept in Series Finale

HPU tightens Pac West race

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

Box Scores: Game 1 | Game 2

WAIPAHU, Hawaii – It wasn't necessarily a wipeout on the island of Oahu, but the race for the Pacific West Conference baseball race definitely tightened Thursday as Dixie State College dropped a pair of league games to Hawaii Pacific at Hans L'Orange Park.

The Sea Warriors (16-15, 13-7 PWC) scored four times in the sixth inning to take the opening game 4-2 and starter Peter Ibanez tossed a two-hit shutout in the finale for a 3-0 win.

Dixie State remains atop the Pac West, but by a very slim margin (20-12, 16-8 PWC).

James Mahler (Sandy, UT/West Jordan) allowed four runs on six hits despite Thursday's opening loss. The right-hander had five strikeouts in 6.2 innings to drop to 4-3. Nick Urban (Las Vegas, NV/Arbor View) had two hits to lead the Red Storm while Sam Friend (Las Vegas, NV/Centennial) added a triple.

HPU's Brent Queen pitched a complete game allowing two runs on six hits to improve to 4-2.

Ibanez was the story in game two. Over seven sparkling innings, he allowed just two hits – both singles to the Storm's Mike Stiles (Las Vegas, NV/Durango) – and struck out five.

Troy Hunter (Las Vegas, NV/Centennial) scattered three runs in eight hits over 5.2 innings for his first loss in his last five appearances.

Dixie State travels to the Big Island starting Monday for a five-game series with the Vulcans of UH-Hilo. Only the first four games – played on Monday and Tuesday – will count toward the PWC race. First pitch for Monday's doubleheader is at 7 p.m. Mountain time (4 p.m. Hawaiian).

UH-Hilo will provide an online audio feed for the games. Listen to Josh Pacheco of ESPN 850AM via the link on DixieAthletics.com.

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