HONOLULU – Fans got to see a sneak preview of the Chaminade University softball team Thursday as the Silverswords made their non-championship fall season debut in an exhibition doubleheader against Christian Brothers University.
The Bucs took both games, which were played at Palolo Recreational Field after heavy rains on Wednesday washed out Patsy T. Mink CORP Field, prompting the doubleheader to be pushed a day later to Palolo Valley.
Christian Brothers took the first game, 6-5, then the nightcap, 9-5.
Game 1: (
Box)
Senior
Aja Keyes, a third-team All-Pacific West Conference selection last season, went 3-for-3 while driving in three in Game 1, including a first inning two-run homer while junior
Sierra Mendiola hit a solo homer in the second.
The game was deadlocked at 4 until the sixth inning when CBU took the lead on Jennifer Gonzalez's two-run blast. The Silverswords managed to push across a run in the bottom of the seventh on
Elia Lizarraga's RBI groundout which scored
Nicole Erichsen. But the 'Swords couldn't score the equalizer as
Theresa Capllonch, the potential tying run, was left stranded at third to end the game.
Kylie Stegall got the win for the Bucs while
Kaitlyn Watanabe took the loss. Reliever
Marisella Rodriguez, who spelled starter
Brett Aspel, threw three innings of one-hit ball while allowing only one run, which was unearned.
Game 2: (
Box)
Senior left fielder
Shannan Hokama, who hit .326 with 28 RBI during her sophomore year then missed most of 2014 with an injury, made a statement on her return to the lineup, thumping a two-run homer to right to give Chaminade a 2-1 lead.
The Silverswords scratched out another in the second when CBU catcher Alexis Seward tried to pick off
Kristiann Endow at second base. But the throw sailed into center field and bounced past the centerfielder, allowing Endow to barely beat the throw home, making it 3-1.
After the Bucs knotted the game at 3 with a pair of runs in the third, they exploded for six in the fourth. CBU was also aided by three Chaminade errors in the frame.
The 'Swords managed to make things interesting in the sixth as pinch-hitters
Kylie Nishino and
Racquel Misioka led off with back-to-back singles with Nishino later coming home on a wild pitch.
Ciana Russ, pinch-hitting in the very casual dress rehearsal contest which featured unlimited substitutions, drilled a two-out, ground-rule double to center, allowing Misioka to trot home for the game's final run.
Kasey Beekman got the win for Christian Brothers while
Chelsea Camello was tagged with the loss. Chaminade starter
Luana Moreno, making her long-awaited debut after redshirting last season, went three innings, allowing three runs while scattering six hits. Aspel worked the final three frames – all scoreless – for the 'Swords on four hits while walking one.
The Silverswords will continue their fall exhibition season during the University of Hawai'i-Manoa's Kama'aina Tournament from Nov. 7-8 at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium. Chaminade opens the tournament on Nov. 7 against BYU-Hawai'i at 4 p.m.
