HPU beats Metro State 7-2, headed for title game

HPU advances to title game vs. Valdosta State on Monday

NCAA II Bracket

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – Sherise Musquiz went 2 for 4 with three runs batted in and pitched another complete-game victory on Sunday, propelling Hawai‘i Pacific University to a 7-2 thumping of Metro (Colo.) State and into the NCAA Division II National Championship game on Monday vs. Valdosta (Ga.) State.

The Sea Warriors will take on the Blazers at 9 a.m. HT in a live nationally televised broadcast on CBS College Sports (Oceanic Digital Cable Channel 247 in Hawaii; Cox Digital Cable Channel 187 in Phoenix).

The game also can be heard live on Red Zone Media and on AM 1500 radio in Honolulu. Viewers also can watch the game online at NCAA TV.

Valdosta State (51-8) eliminated Angelo State from postseason play with a 3-2 victory thanks to Morgan Johnson’s walk-off home run in the seventh.

This marks the second PacWest team this month to reach an NCAA II National Championship match. The BYU-Hawaii women’s tennis team lost to Armstrong Atlantic in the Division II finale in early May.

The HPU victory lifts the Sea Warriors to 49-8 overall while Metro State finishes the year 53-6.

Musquiz scattered eight hits and allowed just two runs in earning her third victory of the tournament and her 33^rd of the season against three defeats.

Down 2-1 heading into the home fourth, HPU scored runs in each of its final at-bat to take the permanent lead. The Sea Warriors ripped 14 base hits, including 13 singles as they chucked nickels and dimes at Metro State.

Ciera Senas went 2 for 4 with an RBI in the game, while Nicole Morrow was 3 for 4 with a double. Casey Sugihara singled, scored twice and Caira Pires went 3 for 4. Maile Kim and Chelsea Luckey each drove in runs as well.