Box Score TURLOCK, CA –Rayna Strom-Okimoto (Aiea, HI/Aiea) homered twice as the Chaminade softball team continued its winning ways in its second day of pool play today at the Tournament of Champions Presented by Mizuno with a 4-1 win over Cal State Dominguez Hills.
The Swords improved to 22-14 on the season and are 4-0 in pool play. CUH has won 16 of its last 17 games. The Toros fell to 20-17.
Chaminade jumped out quickly in the top of the first, when
Shannan Hokama (Torrance, CA/South) opened the game with a double, then advanced to third on a wild pitch. Two batters later, Strom-Okimoto, the current Hawai'i Tourism Authority Pac West Player of the Week, deposited a pitch over the centerfield fence, giving the Swords at 2-0 lead.
But the senior shortstop wasn't done. In the third, she left the park again, this time a solo shot to left center. It was Strom-Okimoto's team-leading seventh home run of the season and her third of the day, having also homered earlier against Northwest Nazarene.
The Toros came back in the bottom of the third, as they opened the frame with three consecutive singles, scoring a run on Adriana Sanchez's RBI single to center. A sacrifice bunt put runners at second and third with one out. But starter
Brett Aspel (Redondo Beach, CA/Redondo Union) wiggled out of the jam, inducing two groundouts to limit the damage to the single run, as the Swords escaped the inning, still holding to a 3-1 lead.
The Swords made it 4-1 in the seventh on
Aja Keyes' (Kaneohe, HI/Lutheran) 2-out RBI single to left center, bringing
Kori Berinobis (Kaneohe, HI/Castle) home.
Aspel continued to work diligently in the circle for the Swords, retiring 14 of the last 17 batters she faced. She also was the recipient of good defense, as Chaminade, ranked eighth in the nation in double plays per game at 0.5, turned two during the game.
Apsel (12-8) picked up the win, going the distance, scattering seven hits and allowing only one run. Strom-Okimoto was 2-for3 in the game with two homers and three RBI, while
Elia Lizarraga (Torrance, CA/Narbonne) also collected two hits. Lauren Harper (8-11) took the loss for the Toros.
The Swords close pool play today at 5:45 p.m. PDT (2:45 p.m. HST) against UC San Diego, then will advance to bracket play tomorrow. The Swords are the defending Bronze Bracket champions.
