WAIPAHU, O'ahu, Hawai'i – The Chaminade University softball team concluded their season-opening 22-game home stand by dropping both games of a Pacific West Conference doubleheader to first place California Baptist, 8-3 and 7-2, Monday at Patsy T. Mink Central O'ahu Regional Park.
Kaitlin Kim and
Rainelle Matsuoka delivered two-run singles in Games 1 and 2, respectively for the Silverswords with the latter driving in three on the night.
Game 1
After two scoreless frames, the Lancers (18-7, 12-2 PacWest) got on the board in a big way in the third with five runs then Ali Subia led off the fourth with a homer which chased starter
Luana Moreno after three innings.
Kali Kitsinis was then summoned from the bullpen and, despite CBU putting runners on second and third, managed to get out of the inning unscathed.
Meanwhile, the Silverswords finally got something going in the fifth as they loaded the bases with two hits and a CBU error. Kim then delivered a one-out, two-run single that snuck under the glove of Lancers' second baseman Deanna Alarcon which put the 'Swords on the board, ending their drought of 31 consecutive scoreless innings dating back to March 9.
Matsuoka then followed Kim's knock by ripping a knuckling liner over the head of right fielder Alley Johnson, allowing
Ashlyn Yagin to score, cutting the deficit to 6-3, ending the night for Lancers' starter Ashley Coleman.
But CBU plated single runs in the sixth and seventh innings to ice the game.
Moreno took the loss to fall to 0-10, allowing six runs on seven hits. Kitsinis worked four frames, striking out a season-high four while allowing two runs on four hits and four walks.
Coleman got the win to improve to 6-2 while Kellye Springstead tossed 2 2/3 innings of hitless relief and earned her first save of the season. Soraya Shahbazian drove in three while Alarcon went 3-for-4 at the dish.
Game 2
CBU wasted no time in getting on the board as Caitlyn Lloyd and Shahbazian hit consecutive homers off starter
Kayla Higuchi in the first inning then added to its lead with single runs in the second, third and fourth innings to go up 5-0.
The 'Swords battled back in the fifth, loading the bases on a
Kylie Nishino walk and infield hits by
Alisen Endsley and
Maureen Hutchinson. Matsuoka delivered again, dropping a bloop single down the right field line, bringing home Nishino and Endsley.
But the Lancers dashed hopes for a comeback in the sixth when Shahbazian homered for the second time in the game with a two-run shot.
Higuchi went the distance in taking the loss, falling to 2-4, allowing all seven runs with 13 hits and three walks, although she struck out a career-high three. Endsley went 2-for-3 at the plate while Matsuoka's two RBI gave the sophomore her team-leading 10
th of the season.
Ciara Stapp improved to 6-3 on the year, tossing a four-hitter with four strikeouts. Lloyd had hits in all five of her plate appearances, falling a triple shy of the cycle while Shahbazian drove in four.
The Silverswords, who fell to 2-20 overall and 0-12 in the PacWest, hit the road for the first time this season and will face Holy Names Sunday at Pioneer Field on the Cal State East Bay campus in Hayward, California at 1 p.m.
