WAIPAHU, O'ahu, Hawai'i – The Chaminade University softball team played their second doubleheader in as many days but dropped both games to Western Oregon, 11-2 and 12-4 in five innings, Wednesday at Patsy T. Mink Central O'ahu Regional Park.
The Silverswords' bats were held in check, recording only nine hits combined in both games while the Wolves had 22.
Chaminade fell to 2-4 on the season while Western Oregon improved to 4-5.
Game 1
WOU tacked on a run in the first then two more in the third but
Coco Stewart prevented more damage, catching a popup in foul territory then firing a dart to
Jenn Betian at third for an inning-ending double play.
The 'Swords got on the board when
Rainelle Matsuoka led off the fourth with a solo homer to straight-away centerfield, her first of the season.
Chaminade added another run in the fifth when Betian drew a bases-loaded walk to cut the deficit to 6-2.
However the Wolves scored five more times to clinch the victory.
WOU starter Haley Fabian got her first win of the year (1-3), striking out eight.
Luana Moreno got the loss for the Silverswords to fall to 0-3 on the season.
Game 2
Western Oregon wasted no time to get on the board with back-to-back homers in the top of the first to grab a 3-0 lead then got five more in the second.
The 'Swords got on the board in the bottom of the second as pinch-hitter
Kylie Nishino bounced a chopper through the right side of the WOU infield to bring home
Maureen Hutchinson to get her first career RBI.
Chaminade finally got a productive inning in the fourth, loading the bases with no out. Betian got drilled on the first pitch she saw, allowing
Racquel Misioka to trot home, followed by
Kayla Henmi's RBI groundout which plated Hutchinson. The 'Swords scored their third run of the inning when WOU catcher Ku'ulei Siolo's throw to first to try and nab Moreno for a potential inning-ending double play sailed into right field, allowing Betian to race home from second to cut the deficit to 12-4.
The 'Swords got more excitement in the fifth on
Kaitlyn Castillo's deep fly over the head of the leftfielder, giving the freshman from Makawao, Maui a double in her first career at-bat.
WOU's Sammi Cadwallander went three innings to get the win to improve to 2-0. Destiny Kuehl homered twice in the contest, completing 5-for-6, four-RBI evening.
Kayla Higuchi suffered her first loss of the season, falling to 2-1, after surrendering nine runs, although only four were earned.
Kali Kitsinis, who made her CUH debut in the first game, threw two innings of relief.
Betian was hit by pitchers twice, giving her five HBPs on the season. Four 'Swords were beaned in the contest, giving them 11 on the season.
The Silverswords will play a single game against Simon Fraser on Friday at Howard Okita Field on the Hawai'i Pacific University campus in Kaneohe. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m.
