LAIE, O'ahu, Hawai'i – The Chaminade University softball team opened Pacific West Conference play with a split to BYU-Hawai'i Saturday at BYUH Softball Field. The Silverswords dropped the first game in nine innings, 2-1, before salvaging the nightcap with an 8-0 five-inning, run-rule win.
Senior
Amber Manuel homered and had three hits in the first game while freshman
Rainelle Matsuoka continued her early season power surge with a grand slam in Game 2.
Jenn Betian went 4-for-8 on the afternoon, raising her team-leading average to .452 on the year.
Coco Stewart had two hits in each game, extending her hitting streak to six games.
The Silverswords are 4-6 and 1-1 in the PacWest while the Seasiders are 3-11 and 1-5.
Game 1Both teams managed to get their share of runners on board in the early innings but failed to come up with a clutch hit with runners in scoring position. Chaminade stranded four while BYUH left seven in the first five innings.
The 'Swords finally ended the scoreless game in the sixth when Manuel blasted a two-out solo homer to right, her first of the season. Chaminade had a chance to tack on more, loading the bases on two walks and an error, but were unable to capitalize.
The Seasiders then rallied in the bottom of the seventh. Down to their last out and runners on the corners, Liz Talataina brought home the tying run with her RBI single to left. An error advanced the runners an extra base, putting the winning run at third, but starter
Luana Moreno got pinch hitter Kalynn Latu to ground out to send the game to extra innings, tied at 1.
In the bottom of the ninth, BYUH completed its come-from-behind win on Rebecca Mawson's two-out RBI walk-off single.
Moreno (2-1) pitched well-enough for the win, scattering 12 hits while walking three and striking out two. Stewart and Betian each had two hits.
Chelsie Childs got the win in relief after pitching a hitless ninth inning. Seasiders starter Meghan Wantz went eight frames, allowing nine hits, four walks with four Ks. Four Seasiders had a pair of hits as the victory snapped their five-game losing streak.
Game 2Chaminade took advantage of the wildness of Childs who got the starting nod. In the second inning, Childs walked the bases loaded then
Sierra Mendiola hit an infield grounder to second but the throw home to nab
Keani Passi at the plate was not in time, still leaving the bases loaded.
That brought up Matsuoka, who promptly parked Child's 3-1 pitch over the centerfield fence for the grand slam, upping the Silverswords' lead to 5-0. It was Matsuoka's fourth homer of the season and the first grand slam by a 'Sword since Dawn Dela Cruz accomplished the feat against Notre Dame de Namur on March 11, 2012. It was also Matsuoka's third homer off BYUH pitching this season.
The 'Swords did more damage in the fourth. With one out and runners on second and third, Passi singled to left field to bring home Stewart. However the Seasiders leftfielder misplayed the ball, allowing
Shannon Tagle to cross the plate with Passi advancing to third. Two batters later, Passi scored when
Kaleen Terayama powered a fly ball off the fence in left-center, making it 8-0.
BYUH threatened to score in the fifth by loading the bases but Chaminade starter
Chelsea Camello got Sarah Captain to pop a foul ball to third to end the inning. The Seasiders led off the sixth with a double and two batters later, a walk put runners at first and second. But Camello induced Alex Barrett to hit a chopper up the middle where Terayama made a nifty back-handed dig, stepping on the bag for the force and firing an off-balance throw to first for a 4-3 game-ending double-play to preserve the win.
Camello earned her first-ever complete-game win and shutout, improving to 2-2. She scattered eight hits and issued five walks. Betian, Stewart and Passi each had two hits for the 'Swords.
Childs took the loss as she lasted only one inning and faced five batters in the second without recording an out. She surrendered five runs, all earned, while walking four. Brittany Vasquez tossed the final four frames, allowing three runs (one earned) on six hits and two walks. Talataina and Brandy Karl had two hits for the Seasiders.
The Silverswords return to non-conference action Tuesday against Rollins College (Florida) in a doubleheader at McKinley High School Field starting at 4:30 p.m. Live streaming audio will be available on GoSwords.com.
