TURLOCK, Calif. – The Chaminade University women's softball team opened the 2015 Tournament of Champions presented by the Turlock Convention and Visitors Bureau by dropping their opening three games at Pedretti Sports Complex Friday.
The Silverswords fell in their opening contest to Humboldt State 5-3, was shutout by UC San Diego 8-0 and dropped their final game of the day, 2-1, to San Francisco State.
Elia Lizarraga had four total hits to lead Chaminade (7-26) while
Theresa Capllonch,
Jenn Betian and
Shannan Hokama had three each with Hokama also drawing two walks.
Game 1 vs. Humboldt StateThe Jacks struck early and often with six straight hits to open the top of the first against Chaminade starter
Kaitlyn Watanabe, the big blow being Dani Randall's two-run homer which made it 4-0.
After HSU added another run in the second to make it 5-0, the Silverswords responded in the bottom of the second as they loaded the bases.
Ashley Phelps then hit a two-out one-hopper to shortstop, but the ball took a wild bounce which went into centerfield for a two-run single that scored Jenn and Hokama, cutting the deficit to 5-2.
Humboldt State threatened to add on in the top of the fourth, but Lizarraga reached over the fence in center, stealing away a potential two-run homer away from Hannah Williams to preserve the three-run deficit.
Meanwhile, Watanabe settled down after her rough start, allowing no runs on two hits from the third inning.
In the seventh, the 'Swords threatened as
Aja Keyes drew a one-out walk to bring the tying run to the plate, but Jacks starter Madison Williams got the final two outs to end the game.
Williams struck out 11 in picking up the complete game win to improve to 12-5. Watanabe scattered 10 hits and one walk as her record fell to 1-8.
Phelps was the only Silversword with multiple hits, going 2-for-4. Randall, Williams and Tiffany Hollingsworth each went 2-for-4 at the plate.
Game 2 vs. UC San DiegoThe Tritons scored single runs in every inning except the third and led 5-0 before scoring three times in the top of the seventh to take an 8-0 lead.
The 'Swords had several chances to plate runs but stranded four runners in scoring position.
Chaminade managed six hits against UCSD starter Hannah Duarte as she picked up the win, improving to 8-6. 'Swords starter
Brett Aspel scattered eight hits and managed to leave four Tritons in scoring position. Aspel (3-8) pitched six innings, allowing 11 hits and three walks while walking three.
Marisella Rodriguez pitched the final inning for Chaminade, allowing only one hit.
Hokama finished the game a perfect 3-for-3 at the dish for the Silverswords. Kristin George drove in three runs for UCSD.
Game 3 vs. San Francisco StateThe game was a pitchers' duel between Chaminade's
Luana Moreno and San Francisco State's Jenny Obbema. The Gators plated the game's first run on Selena Rodriguez's RBI double in the bottom of the third.
The 'Swords countered in the top of the fourth when Betian singled to open the inning. After two wild pitches advanced her to third,
Amber Manuel drove her home with a sacrifice fly to left to tie the game at 1.
In the bottom of the fifth, SFSU got the go-ahead run on Chelsea Brent's sacrifice fly to center field.
In the top of the seventh, Chaminade put potential tying run on board on a single from
Nicole Erichsen. Two batters later, Lizarraga looped a single in shallow center with Erichsen stopping at third. But the 'Swords couldn't get Erichsen home as the Gators held on for the 2-1 win.
Moreno pitched an effective game, allowing seven hits with one walk as she fell to 3-9. Obbema got the win to improve to 2-4.
Lizarraga, Betian, Erichsen and Capllonch accounted for all eight of Chaminade's hits, each getting two. SFSU also got two base hits each from Rodriguez and Delanie Chrisman.
The tournament continues Saturday when the Silverswords face Cal State Dominguez Hills and Saint Martin's.
