IRVINE, Calif. - The Concordia Eagles proved they were able to come up big in clutch situations on Saturday as they secured back-to-back victories over the Hawai'i Pacific Sharks.

The Eagles finished the week 6-2 in their eight PacWest Conference games after going 3-1 against both Hawai'i Hilo and Hawai'i Pacific.

After splitting their first two games with lopsided games against the Sharks on Friday, both of Saturday's contests were nail-biters.

Game 1: CUI 3, HPU 2

Shane Wallace poked the game-winning RBI double in the bottom of the ninth to walk-off the Sharks in stunning fashion.  Pinch-runner Michael Mira scored the winning run before the entire team mobbed Wallace on the edge of the infield.

CUI had taken the lead 1-0 in the fifth inning on a sacrifice fly by Richard Castro.  A bunt single by Kevin Fowler helped add an insurance run that would prove to be extremely important down the stretch.

Evan Larsen was dominant through eight shutout innings and only allowed three hits and two walks. He struck out three and threw over 115 pitches.

But then HPU rallied to tie the game in the top of the ninth and the game was starting to look like it would go to extra innings.

However, Castro led off the bottom of the ninth with a single, Connor Laeng moved him over to second on a sacrifice bunt, and that set the stage for Wallace to finish the job.


Game 2: CUI 4, HPU 3

Shane Wallace and Michael Dixon each provided RBI singles in the bottom of the third inning to push across the first two runs for CUI in the nightcap.

Freshman pitcher Matthew DesMarets turned in a solid outing on the mound by scattering eight hits over 5.2 innings of work. He allowed just three runs and was looking comfortable until a line drive comebacker hit his landing foot and he was pulled from the game as a precaution.  Noah McBride finished the sixth for him to keep CUI close.

Trailing 3-2 in the bottom of the sixth, the Green and Gold got a spark from the second half of their lineup.  After Kevin Fowler smacked a double and pinch-runner Shane Schick advanced to third, center fielder Nathan Benefeito rapped a RBI single to tie the game 3-3. 

Benefeito was moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt by Calvin Schonebaum and then advanced to third on a solid single by Robert Castro. Alex Moreno then capped off a fantastic week with another timely hit moments later.  Moreno smacked a base knock to plate Benefeito for the go-ahead run and put CUI in front to stay.

Colton Bulger coerced the final three outs out of the HPU lineup to notch the save.

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