Box Score WAIPAHU, O'ahu, Hawai'i – The Chaminade University softball team was back on the field Sunday taking on their second Great Northwest Athletic Conference opponent in as many days.
The Silverswords were defeated by Central Washington in the first game 8-4. However lightening and an approaching rain front in the area surrounding Patsy T. Mink Central O'ahu Regional Park cancelled the second game.
Kayla Henmi (Torrance, Calif./South) went 3-for-3, had an RBI and stolen base for the Silverswords (0-3).
Kayla Higuchi (Aiea, Hawai'i/Aiea) pitched five solid innings in relief and also scored two runs.
The Wildcats, favored to win the GNAC for a third straight year, improved to 6-4 on the year.
Central Washington put up seven runs in the first two innings, ending the afternoon for Chaminade starter
Madelyn Stockslager (Torrance, Calif./South).
Chaminade managed to scratch out a run in the forth on a two-out RBI single from
Jackie Najera (Santa Ana, Calif./Segerstrom), the freshman's first career base hit, scoring Higuchi who walked earlier in the inning.
The 'Swords got to CWU starter Kayla Smith in the sixth. A lead-off walk from
Kaitlin Kim (Kahului, Hawai'i/St. Anthony) followed by Higuchi's first career extra base hit, a double into the left-center gap, put runners at second and third with no out. Smith was lifted after plunking Najera to load the bases with no out.
Wildcats ace Lexie Strasser was then summoned from the pen but
Ashlyn Yagin (Ewa Beach, Hawai'i/Campbell) greeted her with a single to center to plate Kim. Two batters later, Henmi hit a chopper to shortstop but the throw went into foul territory which allowed both Higuchi and Yagin to score, cutting the deficit to its final margin of 8-4.
Smith picked up the win to improve to 2-0. Julia Reuble had three hits and was one of three Wildcats with two RBI.
Higuchi scattered six hits in her relief appearance, allowing one run with three strikeouts. Stockslager took the loss to fall to 0-2. Yagin went 2-for-3 at the plate with a run and RBI while Henmi's first-inning stolen base was her third of the season and was the 'Swords' fourth swiped bag this year. Chaminade had four stolen bases all of last year combined.
The Silverswords are back in action Wednesday when they face the University of British Columbia in a four-game series at CORP Field at 4:30 p.m. with live streaming audio on GoSwords.com.
