Ronnie Loeffler pitched a five-hitter and reliever Sheldon Otsuka stranded the potential tying run at third as the Hawai'i-Hilo baseball team opened its season last night with a 2-1 victory over visiting Northwest Nazarene at Francis Wong Stadium.

Northwest Nazarene scored four runs in the top of the ninth to win the nightcap of the doubleheader, 8-4.

Loeffler struck out four, walked one and allowed Ryan VanBeek's RBI single in the fourth that tied the score 1-1.

Jeff Hanna's RBI single in the third put Hilo ahead 1-0, and John Hoffman scored on a wild pitch in the fifth to make it 2-1.

Otsuka replaced Loeffler with two outs and Sean McDonald at third in the top of the seventh. Otsuka got Niko Hawes to ground out to second and end the game.

GOLF

UH-MāNOA 17TH

The University of Hawai'i-Mānoa men's golf team is in 17th place and UH-Hilo in 21st entering today's final round of the Ameri Ari Invitational at the Mauna Lani Resort North Course on the Big Island.

UH-Mānoa shot 302 yesterday for a two-round total of 37-over 613. UH-Hilo shot 328—644.

Washington leads the 22-team tournament at 287—578. Stanford is second at 283—580.

TJ Kua of UH-Mānoa is Hawai'i's top golfer at 74—148 for a tie for 26th.

Oklahoma State's Kevin Tway leads the field at 68—140.

CLINIC

GRICE-MULLINS GUESTS

Former Hawai'i football player Ryan Grice-Mullins will be the guest instructor at this weekend's Hawai'i Speed and Quickness clinics at the UH athletic complex.

Grice-Mullins recently signed a free-agent contract with the Miami Dolphins.

Each session is $10.

Sessions run from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. tomorrow and Sunday.

Call 228-7447 or go to: www.hawaiispeedandquickness.com