WAIPIO, O'ahu, Hawai'i – The Chaminade University softball team opened the Pacific West Conference season Friday, splitting their doubleheader against BYU-Hawai'i at Patsy T. Mink Central O'ahu Regional Park.
The Silverswords, who last played on Feb. 12, dropped the first game of the twinbill, 9-2, but took the second, 6-5, winning on a bases-loaded error in the bottom of the seventh.
Amber Manuel went 3-for-7 on the night for Chaminade (2-8 overall, 1-1 PacWest) driving in a pair of runs, both coming in Game 2.
Courtney Hiruko, one of the leading hitters in the conference, was 4-for-8 with three runs in the double-dip while Makaela Williamson was 5-for-9 and three more runs for the Seasiders (4-8, 2-2 PacWest).
The doubleheader was a make-up of Feb. 20's rainout.
Game 1A big inning-ending defensive play and a big offensive inning was all BYUH needed to capture the first game. The 'Swords got a pair of walks from
Ashley Phelps and
Aja Keyes in the bottom of the first, then
Jenn Betian laced a deep drive to dead centerfield. But Josey Walker made a spectacular catch by reaching over the collapsible fence, robbing Betian of a potential three-run homer, which ended the inning.
The stunning momentum switch seemed to create a hangover effect, as the Seasiders erupted for six runs in the very next half-inning, roughing up starter
Brett Aspel with five hits in the frame. The 'Swords also hurt themselves as a two-out error cost them two runs before finally getting a weak pop foul to end the frame.
Chaminade managed to shake off the effects in its half of the second.
Elia Lizarraga, out since the first game of Opening Day against Gustuvus Adolphus on Feb. 2 due to an injury, drew a lead-off walk, then
Theresa Capllonch singled to right. After a wild pitch moved them a bag, Phelps knocked them in on her two-run single to left, giving them new hope down 6-2.
But the Seasiders iced the game with a run in the fifth and two more in the sixth.
Destyni Valencia went the distance in picking up the win to improve to 2-3, striking out four. Aspel was tagged with the loss to fall to 1-3.
Kaitlyn Watanabe pitched five innings of relief, allowing three runs, two earned.
Williamson went 4-for-5 at the dish while Hiruko was 3-for-4 for BYUH, who pounded out 17 hits.
The loss also snapped Chaminade's seven-game winning streak against BYUH at CORP Field.
Game 2The Seasiders again struck early, plating a pair of runs in the first on an RBI sacrifice fly by Alexa Barrett and a solo homer from Liz Talataina off Chaminade starter
Luana Moreno to take a 2-0 first inning lead.
The 'Swords countered in the third as Lizarraga reached on an error then moved to second on a passed ball. Keyes was retired on a deep fly to right, but Lizarraga wisely tagged up and moved to third, then came home on Manuel's single to left to put them on the board.
The Silverswords got the equalizer in the fifth with back-to-back doubles from Keyes then Manuel who delivered her second RBI of the game.
Meanwhile Moreno had settled down, retiring 13-of-14 batters, including 11 straight from the second inning. But the redshirt freshman ran into trouble in the sixth as four straight batters reached base as BYUH scratched two runs to take a 4-2 lead.
In the bottom of the sixth, Capllonch led off with a single off reliever Brittany Vasquez. Two outs later, Watanabe in to pinch-hit, was plunked. Lizarraga then caught the BYUH infield by surprise with a perfectly-executed infield bunt single to load the bases. Vasquez then hit Hokama to bring Capllonch home to make it 4-3. Valencia relieved Vasquez, but Keyes greeted her with a bloop single to left center, allowing
Sierra Mendiola and Lizarraga to score, giving Chaminade a 5-4 lead.
But BYUH answered in the seventh as Talataina lined a double just inside the left field line to bring home the tying run.
Then in the bottom of the seventh, Valencia retired the first two batters she faced, but then lost command of her pitches, walking
Coco Stewart,
Nicole Erichsen and Mendiola consecutively. That set the stage for Lizarraga who hit a soft dribbler back to the circle. But she quickly bolted out of the box, making a dead-sprint to the bag and Valencia's toss to first was shot-hopped. The first baseman was unable to make the dig, enabling Lizarraga to be safe while Stewart raced home for the walk-off winner.
The victory gave Moreno (1-3) her first collegiate win while Valencia (2-4) took the loss. Moreno scattered nine hits with two strikeouts and two walks with four runs earned.
Keyes and Manuel were both 2-for-4 at the dish with two RBI.
The Silverswords continue conference play on Sunday when they host Hawai'i-Hilo in a doubleheader at CORP Field. First pitch is set for 2:30 p.m. with live streaming audio on GoSwords.com.
