RIVERSIDE, Calif. – The Chaminade University softball team continued their jaunt through the southwest swing of their only Mainland trip, falling in a doubleheader to 11
th-ranked California Baptist Saturday at John C. Funk Stadium.
The Lancers won the first, 8-0 in six innings, then finished the night with a 12-4 win in five innings.
Game 1The Lancers scored three times in the bottom of the first then added two more in the second for a 5-0 lead. The Silverswords prevented further damage in the frame with a spectacular defensive play.
CBU put runners and second and third with one out, a fly fall to shallow left-center field popped out of the glove of a charging
Keani Passi but
Kayla Henmi, backing up on the play, grabbed the carom before the ball hit the ground. Meanwhile Lancers runner at third, Kayla Mann, did not see the catch and took off for home. Mann was then doubled off at third for an inning-ending double play.
The 'Swords had two chances to get on the board, putting runners at second base in the fourth and fifth innings but couldn't bring them home.
CBU scored two runs in the bottom of the sixth to make it 8-0, ending the game via the run-rule.
Luana Moreno took the loss to fall to 5-8.
Coco Stewart and
Kiana Ulufale accounted for Chaminade's two hits in the contest.
Ashley Coleman improved to 10-2 for the Lancers. The first three batters in CBU's batting card each had two hits.
Game 2The Silverswords made some noise in the first with singles from Stewart and
Jenn Betian, followed by an error on the shortstop on Manuel's at bat to load the bases with one out. However the 'Swords were unable to plate a run.
CBU plated four runs in the second, the big blast being a three-run homer by Ali Subia.
In the top of the third, the 'Swords again loaded the bases, opening the frame with consecutive singles from
Kayla Henmi, Betian and
Amber Manuel to load the bases. Two batters later, Passi hit a bouncer up the middle to bring home Henmi and Betian as Chaminade closed to 4-2, which chased CBU starter Kayla Hatch from the circle. Then with two outs,
Kaleen Terayama scorched a liner which got past right fielder Soraya Shahbazian as the ball rolled to the fence. The triple enabled Manuel and Passi to cross the plate, tying the game at 4.
But CBU retook the lead in the fourth with a single run then added five more in the fifth for a 10-4 lead.
The Lancers then closed the game out with two runs in the fifth.
Chelsea Camello fell to 3-8 in taking the loss. The first six Silverswords in the batting order each had one hit with Betian and Terayama each collecting two base knocks in their nine-hit game.
Kellye Springstead got the win in relief for California Baptist, improving to 6-2. Three Lancers accounted for two hits.
The Silverswords and Lancers conclude their four-game series Saturday starting at 1 p.m. Pacific time.
