WAIPIO, O'ahu, Hawai'i – Less than 24 hours after being beaten in nearly every facet of the game on Friday, the Chaminade University softball team found a way to overcome one of the favorites in the Pacific West Conference.
On Saturday at Patsy T. Mink Central O'ahu Regional Park, the Silverswords managed a split against No. 20 California Baptist, rallying from an early three-run deficit and getting a walk-off single from
Sierra Mendiola to down the Lancers 4-3 in Game 1.
CBU would take the four-game series with a convincing 15-1 win in the nightcap.
The Saturday split brought Chaminade's record to 3-13 and 2-6 in the PacWest while California Baptist went to 19-5 and 8-2.
Game 1The game had an auspicious start with the Lancers scoring single runs in the first three innings to take a 3-0 lead.
However the 'Swords finally countered in the fourth.
Jenn Betian was walked and
Theresa Capllonch reached safely on an error.
Kaleen Terayama was plunked then CBU starter Loie Kesterson uncorked a wild pitch with the bases loaded to score Betian.
Ashley Phelps then hit a rope off the second baseman's glove that allowed Capllonch and Terayama to cross the plate, tying the game at 3.
Meanwhile, Chaminade starter
Brett Aspel had worked her way out of trouble for most of the game. The Lancers loaded the bases in the fifth with no outs, but Aspel dug deep and struck out two then got a weak comebacker to end the frame.
California Baptist again loaded the bases in the seventh but Aspel struck out Sarah Murphy to escape without allowing a run.
In the bottom of the seventh, Phelps was beaned to lead off the inning followed by
Elia Lizarraga's bunt single. Two batters later, Mendiola, who entered the game as a defensive replacement in the top of the seventh, came through with the biggest hit in her collegiate career, bouncing a hard chopper over the head of the first baseman, allowing Lizarraga to score easily from second to give the 'Swords the 4-3 win. It was Mendiola's first career walk-off hit.
Kesterson, who no-hit the Silverswords on Friday, allowed five hits on Saturday and also plunked four batters, dropping her record to 10-3. Aspel scattered six hits, allowing three runs, two earned. She walked five and struck out four to earn the win to improve to 2-3.
It was Chaminade's first win over a nationally-ranked opponent since beating seventh-ranked Grand Canyon on March 7, 2013.
Lizarraga was the only 'Sword with a multi-hit game, going 2-for-4.
Game 2The hangover of the loss didn't last very long to CBU, which scored four times in the opening inning. And for the second consecutive day in the nightcap game, the Lancers used a monstrous third inning to blow the game open.
The first seven batters in the third got on board safely as the Lancers scored 10 runs in frame on eight hits as 14 batters came up to the plate.
The 'Swords only run of the game came in the fifth via
Nicole Erichsen, who took a 3-0 count from reliever Belinda Renne and deposited the ball over the fence in right-center for her first career homer.
Kayla Hatch pitched three innings of one-hit ball to earn the win, improving to 8-2.
Luana Moreno suffered the defeat to fall to 1-5.
The 'Swords are probably glad to not have to face CBU right fielder Tayler Castro again this season. The night after she powered out a grand slam, she again proved to be an RBI machine driving in eight in the second game, including a three-run inside-the-park homer in the first inning and then two doubles and five more RBI in the third. In the four-game series, Castro was 7-for-10 with 15 RBI and five runs with two home runs.
The Silverswords return to action Monday when they host Azusa Pacific at CORP Field with first pitch of the twin-bill set for 4:30 p.m. Live streaming audio will be available on GoSwords.com.
