WAIPAHU, O'ahu, Hawai'i – Whenever the Chaminade University and Dixie State University softball teams square off, the results have more often than not been one-sided in favor of the school from St. George, Utah.
And although Monday's doubleheader against the Trailblazers at Patsy T. Mink Central Regional Park was the same result as years past – a DSU sweep – the Silverswords did manage to pull off a feat that they hadn't done in seven years – score multiple runs in back-to-back games against them.
After being blitzed 20-4 in the opening game, the 'Swords managed to show plenty of fight in the nightcap, dropping the second game 8-2 in which the outcome was still in doubt in the late innings.
Rainelle Matsuoka (Honolulu/Kaiser) clubbed her third homer of the season, a two-run blast in the first game, while
Madelyn Stockslager (Torrance, Calif./South) kept the powerful DSU bats at bay in the second.
Chaminade fell to 4-13 overall and 1-9 in the Pacific West Conference while Dixie State, ranked third in the latest NFCA Coaches Poll, remained undefeated at 20-0 and 6-0 in the conference.
It was the final meeting between the two programs who had been facing each other annually since Dixie State was admitted to the PacWest for the 2007 softball season. The Trailblazers, who have made two Division II College World Series appearances since 2014, are departing for the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference next season.
Game 1
The Silverswords committed a season-high seven errors in the first game with DSU scoring multiple runs in the first four innings. It lead 20-0 before the 'Swords got a break in the bottom of the fourth.
Matsuoka fouled out but was called back to the plate after Trailblazers reliever Alexandria Melendez was called for an illegal pitch, keeping the at-bat alive. The junior shortstop took advantage of the new life by depositing the next pitch into left field to put the 'Swords on the board, giving Matsuoka her 18
th career homer, just seven behind Brandi Sasaki's career mark of 25.
Chaminade tacked on two more runs in the fifth on RBI ground-outs from
Ashlyn Yagin (Ewa Beach, Hawai'i/Campbell) and
Jackie Najera (Santa Ana, Calif./Segerstrom), although it was not nearly enough to prevent the run-rule.
Melendez got the win to improve to 6-0 while
Devan Dickson (Avondale, Ariz./Westview) took the loss to fall to 1-5.
Kayla Higuchi (Aiea, Hawai'i/Aiea) allowed no earned runs in her 2 1/3 innings of relief. It was also Chaminade's first runs against the Blazers since 2015 after getting shut out in all four games last year.
Game 2
It was a complete turnaround for the Silverswords who did not back down in the nightcap. Stockslager and DSU's Alexis Barkwell were locked in a pitchers' duel, each firing a no-hitter through four innings.
But the Blazers finally got a knock in the fifth which helped stake them to a 3-0 lead. The 'Swords answered in their half of the fifth with DSU making a pair of mistakes to help get them on the board.
With runners at second and third with one out aided by a Dixie error,
Makena Kealoha (Corona, Calif./Norco) grounded out to shortstop but first baseman's Kori Gahn's throw home to try and double up
Alisen Endsley (Orange, Calif./Orange Lutheran) sailed past catcher Destiny Diaz, allowing Endsley to score and putting
Kaitlin Kim (Kahului, Hawai'i/St. Anthony) at third. The next batter,
Kayla Henmi (Torrance, Calif./South) then chopped a slow roller to third but Henmi beat out the throw at first, allowing Kim to score Chaminade's second run of the inning to cut the deficit to 3-2.
However DSU plated two runs in the sixth and three more in the seventh to ice the game.
Barkwell got the win to improve to 4-0 while Cambie Hazel pitched two scoreless innings to get her second save of the year.
Stockslager struck out five through the first four innings before DSU finally got to her. Henmi's RBI hustle single proved to be Chaminade's only hit of the game.
It was the first time plating multiple runs in back-to-back contests against Dixie State since scoring 5 and 3 runs, respectively, in a April 2011 twin bill.
The Silverswords return to action Wednesday when they wrap their season-opening 17-game home stand against another opponent they will see for the final time in California Baptist (17-4, 9-1) which is ranked just outside the top 25 poll. First pitch at CORP Field is set for 4:30 p.m. with live streaming audio coverage on GoSwords.com.
