HONOLULU – The Chaminade University softball team opened the 2014 University of Hawai'i-Manoa Kama'aina Tournament with a 4-1 win over Pacific West Conference rival BYU-Hawai'i Friday at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.
After a pitchers' dual that saw only four combined base hits in the first four-and-a-half innings, the Silverswords exploded in the bottom of the fifth. Back-to-back walks to open the frame issued to
Kristiann Endow and
Sierra Mendiola then a sacrifice bunt by
Elia Lizarraga put them at second and third with one out.
Ashley Phelps then laid down a bunt on a squeeze play, but Seasiders pitcher Chelsie Childs tried to go to third to nab Endow, who got back to bag in time, allowing Phelps to successfully get to first to load the bases.
Then
Shannan Hokama, who was lost most of last season due to injury, belted the first pitch she saw from Childs into the right center gap to clear the bases, allowing all three runners to score. BYUH made a pitching change, but reliever Pitisi Tualau fared no better when
Theresa Capllonch drilled a fly ball into the left center gap, allowing Hokama to score easily from second, giving the Swords a 4-0 lead.
The Seasiders tacked on their first run of the game in the top of the sixth with a two-out RBI double off starter
Brett Aspel, who tossed a gem. Redshirt freshman
Luana Moreno was then summoned out of the bullpen and struck out Haleigh Mortenson to end the threat.
Moreno ended her impressive relief outing, getting a pair of strikeouts in the seventh to end the game.
Aspel was impressive against the Seasiders, resembling the hurler who won 14 games in 2013, allowing only three hits in 5 1/3 innings to pick up the win. Moreno's dominant relief effort earned her the save.
Chaminade continues the Kama'aina Tournament at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium on Saturday when they face Hawai'i-Hilo at 11 a.m. The Swords then wrap up the tournament at 3 p.m. against host Division I Hawai'i-Manoa.
