WAIPAHU, O'ahu, Hawai'i – The Chaminade University softball team had a wild day as they resumed Pacific West Conference action Saturday at Patsy T. Mink Central O'ahu Regional Park.
Facing Azusa Pacific, the defending PacWest champions, the Silverswords were engaged in a slugfest, losing Game 1, 11-10, then got shutout in the nightcap, 10-0 in five innings.
The losses dropped the Silverswords to 2-10 and 0-4 in the conference while the Cougars improved to 12-5 and 4-0.
Game 1
After spotting APU three runs in the first,
Rainelle Matsuoka scored Chaminade's first run in the bottom of the frame on an errant throw back into the infield from right. After
Nicole Erichsen and
Luana Moreno walked to load the bases,
Kiana Ulufale promptly unloaded them by launching a moon shot to left off APU starter Carly Xepoleas as her first homer of the season and second career slam put the 'Swords ahead, 5-3.
The Cougars jumped ahead with a four-run second inning but the Silverswords again flexed their muscle as Erichsen belted her second homer of the season, a two-run shot to left center, tying the game at 7.
Luana Moreno then made it back-to-back, crushing her first career homer to give Chaminade an 8-7 lead.
The lead changed hands again in APU's two-run fourth but the Silverswords managed to battle back in the bottom of the frame. With Erichsen on first and Betian at second,
Coco Stewart dropped a sinking liner into center that moved both runners up a base. On the play, Cougars centerfielder Abry Moreno booted the ball, allowing Betian to score the tying run.
APU then took a 10-9 lead in the top sixth but again the 'Swords tied it in the bottom of the inning on Stewart's single to right center. Chaminade then loaded the bases with no out but couldn't get the go-ahead run home.
The Cougars went ahead in the seventh when Cayla Broussard barely beat the throw to first on an infield single that would've ended the inning. Instead the go-ahead run scored from third. Chaminade went down in order in the bottom of the seventh to end the game.
The contest lasted 2:39 and featured nine combined errors, six by the Silverswords, although they managed to scratch out nine hits, tying a season high. However their three homers did set a season-best.
Kali Kitsinis took the loss to fall to 0-2 although she pitched admirably in her longest outing of the year, tossing five innings in relief on 75 pitches as she and starter
Kayla Higuchi allowed only six APU hits. Erichsen reached base four times which included going 2-for-3 at the plate with three runs and two RBI in addition to two walks.
Ashlyn Yagin went 2-for-4 while Stewart, mired in a season-opening 2-for-25 slump, went 2-for-3 with an RBI and run.
Xepoleas' day as the starter didn't last long as she was pulled after only 2/3 inning, walking three and allowing five runs including Ulufale's granny. Jenna Gorman drove in three for APU.
Game 2
APU again broke out the bats as they plated three runs in the opening inning. But unlike the first game, CUH couldn't counter in its half of the frame, going down in order.
The Cougars then unloaded in the second with five straight hits, two of the infield variety, on-route to a five-run frame.
APU added two more runs in the third to put the run-rule in effect. However, the 'Swords failed to get on the board over the next three innings.
Azusa's Kat Ung went the distance to improve to 2-0. APU's first four batters in the order each went 3-for-4 in the contest.
Moreno suffered the loss to fall to 0-6, lasting only one inning, her shortest outing of the season. Higuchi tossed the final four innings, scattering eight hits and allowing two runs.
The 'Swords had only two base runners in the game – Erichsen (walk) and
Maureen Hutchinson (hit by pitch) – and could not muster a hit in the contest.
The Silverswords are back in action Tuesday when they host Concordia University Irvine at CORP Field. First pitch is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. with live streaming audio on GoSwords.com.
