RIVERSIDE, Calif. – The Chaminade University softball team concluded their four-game series against No. 11 California Baptist with a pair of losses Saturday at John Funk Stadium.
The Silverswords (8-20 overall, 4-14 Pacific West Conference) dropped the first game 9-1 in five innings then lost the night cap, 10-2 also in five. The Lancers (28-6, 11-3) swept the season series.
Game 1After the Lancers tacked on a run in the first inning but the 'Swords managed to get hits by
Amber Manuel and
Rainelle Matsuoka in the second off CBU starter Kellye Springstead. However Matsuoka and
Kiana Ulufale were left stranded.
In the third, Chaminade got back-to-back two-out walks from Henmi and
Jenn Betian, who was making her first career start at third base. But like the previous innings, both were stranded.
Then the wheels came off in the fourth. The first four CBU batters got hits including a three-run homer from Hannah Thieroff as the Lancers tacked on seven runs, chasing starter
Luana Moreno from the circle.
In the top of the fifth
Kaleen Terayama lined a double down the left field followed by a single by
Coco Stewart, putting runners on the corner with no out. Henmi then lifted a sacrifice fly to right to bring Terayama home, staving off the run-rule.
But the Lancers loaded the bases and plated the game-ending run on an infield single.
Moreno took the loss to fall to 5-9 while the 'Swords were held to four hits.
Springstead got the win to improve to 7-2.
Game 2Like the first game, CBU plated a run in the first. But this time, the Silverswords answered in the top of the second inning.
Rainelle Matsuoka got on board on an error then
Keani Passi blasted a no-doubter well over the 205-foot sign in left. The two-run homer, Passi's fifth of the season, gave Chaminade its first lead of the series at 2-1. It also gave her the team's RBI lead with 16.
But CBU exploded for seven runs in the bottom of the frame to retake the lead at 8-2, chasing starter
Chelsea Camello. Six of its runs came with two outs.
The Lancers then took advantage of four Silverswords errors in the bottom of the fourth, scoring two runs to go up 10-2.
With the 'Swords facing the run-rule again, Betian got a two-out single and got to second on a wild pitch. But the Lancers got the final out to end the game.
Camello was tagged with the loss to fall to 3-9.
Kayla Hatch improved to 11-2 on the year. CBU rapped out 11 hits in the game including three from Sarah Murphy.
The Silverswords face Azusa Pacific in Azusa, California, on Monday.
