KANEOHE, O'ahu, Hawai'i – The Chaminade University softball team split a non-conference doubleheader against fellow Pacific West Conference member Hawai'i Pacific University, dropping a 9-1 six-inning decision in Game 1 but rallied to win the second, 6-0, in a Saturday doubleheader at Howard Okita Field.
Jenn Betian went 4-for-7 with three RBI in the twinbill while
Keani Passi and
Kiana Ulufale had three on the day.
Luana Moreno got the nod in the nightcap and put forth perhaps the finest outing of her career, tossing a complete-game, two-hit shutout.
Game 1The Sharks tacked on a run in the first, then got three in the fourth, the big blow being Noelani Boyer's two-run homer to left which chased starter
Chelsea Camello.
The 'Swords got their first run in the top of the fifth when Betian doubled off the left field fence to bring home
Sierra Mendiola, cutting the deficit to 4-1.
Chaminade had opportunities to plate more runs but stranded two runners in scoring in the third inning and one more each in the fifth and sixth.
HPU tacked on four runs in the bottom of the sixth to end the game via run-rule.
Camello took the loss, falling to 1-2, lasting 3 1/3 innings allowing three runs on five hits while striking out two. Passi was 2-for-3 with a single and double as the 'Swords rapped out six hits.
Sharks' hurler Kristen Caskey went the distance for the win, improving to 2-2, with eight strikeouts. HPU had 10 hits with Kayla Sanchez going 2-for-3 with four RBI.
Game 2After two scoreless innings, Chaminade got a lead-off double from
Coco Stewart in the third. Two batters later, Betian ripped a double to left center to bring Stewart home. Passi followed with a sharp single up the middle to move Betian to third, then Ulufale hit a bouncer past the second baseman to plate Betian. After Kayla Hemi moved to the runners into scoring position with her groundout,
Amber Manuel, in the midst of a season-opening slump, doubled to the fence in left to bring Passi and Ulufale home, making it 4-0.
Chaminade made it 5-0 in the fourth as it got back-to-back doubles from
Rainelle Matsuoka and Betian.
The 'Swords tacked on an insurance run in the sixth when Ulufale hit her first career homer to left center, making it 6-0.
Meanwhile Moreno was brilliant in the circle as the two base hits she allowed were singles with one of them being of the infield variety. She struck out a career-high six to improve to 2-2 on the season while lowering her ERA to 4.20. The win was only the second by the 'Swords in Kaneohe during the past nine years.
Betian went 3-for-4 with two RBI and a run while Ulufale was 2-for-4 with two runs and two RBI including her solo homer.
HPU starter Alexis Moralres took the loss, dropping to 0-1, allowing nine hits and five runs in her 3 2/3 innings of work.
The Silverswords open PacWest play Saturday in Laie against BYU-Hawai'i.
