HONOLULU – The Chaminade University softball team wrapped up their season-opening 22-game home stand by being swept by Faulkner University in non-conference action, 5-2 and 10-6, Tuesday at Sand Island Park.
The Silverswords (3-19 overall) banged out 10 hits in both games, marking the first time this season with back-to-back double-digit hits, but the Eagles (10-4) from Montgomery, Ala., got timely hitting in Game 1 then feasted on Chaminade pitching in the second game for 13 base knocks.
Amber Manuel was 3-for-7 and drove in three during the twin bill, giving her a team-high 11 RBI for the 'Swords. She also extended her hitting streak to seven.
Ashley Phelps went 4-for-5 at the dish to raise her average to a team-high .351.
Coco Stewart was 4-for-6 at the dish while
Aja Keyes and
Elia Lizarraga also had three hits with Keyes driving in two while Lizarraga had one RBI.
Game 1After Faulkner took a 1-0 lead in the third, the Silverswords responded in their half of the frame on Manuel's two-out RBI to right, which brought home Phelps and Lizarraga to give Chaminade a 2-1 lead.
But starter
Brett Aspel, who had retired 7-of-8 batters she faced after the third inning, ran into trouble in the sixth as four of the first five batters recorded base hits with two runs coming in to give the lead back to Faulkner at 3-2.
Kaitlyn Watanabe was summoned from the bullpen but allowed a two-run single to Avery Mott to make it 5-2 with both runs charged to Aspel.
Chaminade threatened in the bottom half of the inning, but
Kaleen Terayama was caught in a rundown at third base on Keyes' single which ended the frame.
Mattie Dotson (5-1) picked up the win for the Eagles, going the distance while striking out 10. Aspel (2-5) suffered the loss.
Phelps, Lizarraga, Manuel and Stewart each had two hits for Chaminade.
Game 2Faulkner went into attack mode against 'Swords starter Watanabe, swinging on early counts and finding success as the first five batters reached base to take a 3-0 lead, chasing the senior from the circle without recording an out.
Chelsea Camello was summoned from the pen and despite allowing a run, which was also charged to Watanabe, got out of the jam down 4-0 after the first half-inning.
Camello allowed two more runs to cross the plate as Watanabe replaced her with two outs in the third. Another run, charged to Camello, scored in the frame as Chaminade found itself down 8-0.
But in the home half of the third, the 'Swords finally got the bats going. Watanabe singled to lead off the inning then Phelps was plunked. Lizarraga was safe at first on a throwing error by Eagles pitcher Hayden Strickland, allowing Watanabe to score Chaminade's first run. Keyes then doubled to the left center gap to bring home Phelps, then Manuel scored Lizarraga on her sacrifice fly to deep center field, which closed the gap to 8-3.
Chaminade cut the deficit to 8-4 in the fourth on Lizarraga's RBI single but Faulkner tacked on two in the fifth, making it 10-4.
But the 'Swords had one last gasp in the bottom of the sixth. Watanabe and Phelps opened with back-to-back singles and, after advancing one base on Lizarraga's groundout, Keyes hit a blooper down the right field line, allowing Watanabe to score, but Phelps was thrown out at the plate. Meanwhile Keyes moved to second on the play due to obstruction by first baseman Katie Goodson. Manuel then beat out a slow roller to shortstop for an infield single, but Goodson mishandled the throw, allowing Keyes to score the 'Swords second run of the inning.
However the rally would be stifled and the game was called after the sixth due to the time limit which was agreed by both teams before the game, giving Faulkner the 10-6 win.
Strickland picked up the victory to even her record to 3-3 while Watanabe suffered the loss to drop her mark to 0-7.
Keyes was 2-for-4 with a run and two RBI while Phelps and Watanabe also had two hits each for the 'Swords, whose top of the order went 8-for-17 with four RBI and three runs.
Faulkner's Emma Cornell was 4-for-4 with four RBI while Kelsey Hartley went 3-for-3 with three RBI and three runs, including a solo homer in the second inning. The Eagles' lineup from 1-5 was 12-for-18 with eight RBI and seven runs.
Chaminade departs for its first and only Mainland trip of the season as their Bay Area swing will first stop on Friday at Holy Names which opens a four-game set which concludes on Saturday.
