Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 WAIPIO, Hawai'i – Game 1 of Chaminade University's Pacific West Conference contest against Dominican University of California on Thursday saw yet another pitching duel with the Silversword unable to deliver that one big hit.
That all changed in the backend of the doubleheader.
After getting only four hits off Penguins' ace Ashlyn Moriarty in a 2-1 first game loss, the 'Swords exploded for 14 runs and 12 hits in the first two innings alone in a 15-5, five inning rout of Dominican in Game 2 at Patsy T. Mink Central O'ahu Regional Park.
The split left the 'Swords at 6-6 on the year, 5-5 in the PacWest. Dominican, picked to finish 10
th in the 11-team conference, remained in second place at 5-3 in the conference, 11-8 overall.
After Chaminade allowed the Penguins to score the opening run in Game 2, the Silverswords found their stroke as
Elia Lizarraga led off with a single up the middle. Two batters later,
Samantha Ford ripped a double to the left center gap, easily scoring Lizarraga from second to tie the game at 1. Cleanup hitter
Aja Keyes worked the count full, then unloaded a moonshot off starter Karly Harris to dead center for a two-run homer, her second of the season, making it 3-1. Chaminade wasn't done as
Ciana Russ then belted a double into the left field corner, prompting a pitching change. Reliever Angelina Lombardi fared no better as she walked the first batter she faced in
Nicole Erichsen while Russ successfully stole third. Lombardi then uncorked a wild pitch, allowing Russ to score the fourth Silversword run of the inning.
DUC would mount a rally in the top of the second, as they sent nine batters to the plate, scoring four runs, chasing starter
Kaitlyn Watanabe in favor of
Chelsea Camello, as the Penguins led 5-4 heading to the bottom of the second.
The 'Swords more than made up for the losing the lead with a monstrous second inning. Chaminade loaded the bases on a Lizarraga lead-off walk, then back-to-back singles by Phelps and Ford. Two batters later, Russ was plunked, bringing home the tying run. After Phelps was thrown at home on a force play for the second out,
Shannan Hokama's dribbler to third was mishandled, allowing everyone to be safe and Ford to cross the plate for the go-ahead run at 6-5.
The inning continued to unravel for Dominican as the Silverswords finally got the big hit that eluded them several times during the season. With the bags still full of 'Swords, first baseman
Theresa Capllonch then powered the first pitch she saw from Lombardi over the outstretched glove of a drawn-in right fielder for a bases-clearing triple, making it 9-5. Capllonch then came home on a wild pitch, increasing the score to 10-5.
The two-out hit parade continued for the 'Swords as
Jenn Betian, Lizarraga and Phelps had consecutive singles. The latter brought home Betian for the sixth run of the inning. DUC's Katelyn Harden was then summoned from the bullpen to try and get the elusive third out, but fared no better as Ford continued with a single to center, bringing Lizarraga home. Keyes would add the exclamation point when her sinking liner landed just inside the right field line and past the defender, allowing both Phelps and Ford to cross the plate as Keyes notched a triple. The Penguins finally got out of the inning on a pop up.
When the bottom of the second inning smoke cleared, 14 Silverswords came up to the plate, scoring 10 runs on eight hits. All but one run allowed by Dominican was unearned.
The Penguins mounted a mini-rally in their half of the third on a one-out single and walk. Taking no chances for a big DUC inning, Camello was pulled for
Marisella Rodriguez. The redshirt freshman hurler from Pearl City was masterful, retiring all eight batters she faced.
Chaminade added one more run in the fourth as
Noelani Maglinti hit a two-out double to left. After Keyes singled, Maglinti came home on a wild pitch, marking the final run of the game for the Silverswords.
Camello (1-1) picked up her first career win while Lombardi (0-1) took the loss. Keyes was 3-for-4 with four RBI while finishing a double shy of the cycle. Ford went 3-for-3 to raise her average to a team-best .486.
The 15 runs scored by Chaminade is the most since putting up 17 on Feb. 2, 2011 against Gustavus University. It's also the most runs scored in a PacWest game since scoring 13 at BYU-Hawai'i on Feb. 23, 2008.
In Game 1, the Penguins scored single runs in the first two innings, allowing Moriarty to baffle the Silverswords with her devastating change-up, striking out six 'Swords and allowing four hits in improving to 8-1 on the year.
Brett Aspel (2-4), meanwhile, went toe-to-toe with Moriarty, allowing only five hits in her complete game loss.
The 'Swords had a golden opportunity in the fourth as Hokama and Betian reached on back-to-back two-out singles.
Kristiann Endow then reached on an error when Moriarty mishandled her comebacker, loading the bases. Moriarty then redeemed herself by inducing an inning-ending comebacker to end the threat.
Chaminade's lone run came in the fifth as Lizarraga led off by beating a throw at first on a comebacker to Moriarty, then stealing second. Phelps then sacrificed Lizarraga to third and was safe herself at first when the second baseman booted the throw from the first baseman. Lizarraga later came home on a wild pitch.
The loss snapped a 14-game winning streak against Dominican, dating back to 2010.
Lizarraga had a steady night at the dish, going 4-for-7 combined with four runs scored.
The 'Swords will play outside of CORP Field for the first time this season on Saturday as they face BYU-Hawai'i in Laie for a PacWest doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for 12 p.m.
