ATHERTON, Calif. – The Chaminade University softball team endured cold temperatures, a light rain, an early start time and a new type of playing surface to get a split of a doubleheader against Notre Dame de Namur on Wednesday.
The Silverswords were held to just three hits in their 6-0, first-game loss. However they rebounded in the second game by scoring the first nine runs en-route to a 9-1, five-inning win.
Jackie Najera (Santa Ana, Calif./Segerstrom) went 3-for-7 in the twin bill for Chaminade (8-17, 5-13 Pacific West Conference) which has won four of its first six road games. Notre Dame de Namur is 7-19 and 4-6.
The games were originally set for Notre Dame High School but heavy rains on Monday night into Tuesday morning prompted the move to Menlo College. First pitch was also moved up to 9 a.m. The games were played on Menlo's artificial turf soccer field which also doubles as the softball field.
Game 1
After a scoreless first three innings, NDNU broke through in the fourth, taking advantage of a Chaminade outfield error on Alexxis Corona's RBI base hit to left. The Argos tacked on a second run on a throwing error that should've ended the inning.
The 'Swords could only muster one hit through the first five frames off NDNU starter Sophia Garcia, a first-inning infield bloop single from
Ashlyn Yagin (Ewa Beach, Hawai'i/Campbell) that dropped between third and shortstop. Chaminade got its second hit of the game in the sixth when Najera extended her hitting streak to seven when she ripped a double to the left-center field gap but was left stranded there.
The Argos put the game away with three runs in the sixth.
Devan Dickson (Avondale, Ariz./Westview) labored in the light rain, taking the loss to fall to 3-7, allowing 12 hits with two walks. However just three runs were earned.
Kayla Russell (Honolulu/Kaiser) doubled to the right-field gap in the seventh to break a 0-for-24 slump.
Garcia earned the win for NDNU, baffling the 'Swords' bats for just three hits, striking out five.
Game 2
After a scoreless first inning, the 'Swords finally broke out in the second. With two outs in the frame, pinch-runner
Kaitlyn Castillo (Makawao, Hawai'i/Kamehameha-Maui) scored when Argos third baseman Lauryn Zabat booted a one-hopper on
Makena Kealoha's (Corona, Calif./Norco) at-bat. Najera then extended her hitting streak to eight when she lined a double towards to the fence in left-center, scoring Kealoha and
Kayla Henmi (Torrance, Calif./South). Yagin then hit an infield single to shortstop Megan Lawson whose throw to get the speedy centerfielder sailed into right field, bringing Najera in to make it 4-0.
The Silverswords extended the lead in the fourth.
Rainelle Matsuoka (Honolulu/Kaiser) brought home pinch-runner
Michelle Sasaki (Kaneohe, Hawai'i/Kalaheo) on a hustle double into short right-center. Pitcher
Madelyn Stockslager (Torrance, Calif./South) then helped herself to make it 6-0, slashing an RBI single to right. Henmi added to the total, bouncing a hit off the leg of Garcia who came in from of the bullpen. The infield single plated Matsuoka to make it 7-0.
NDNU loaded the bases with two outs in its half of the fourth but Stockslager got a groundout to second to quell the threat.
The 'Swords weren't done tacking on runs. Russell hit a ground-rule double down the left field line then scored when a throw from Zabat to gun down Najera skipped past the first baseman and rolled into foul territory. That allowed Russell to score with Najera making it to third to put the mercy-rule in effect. Matsuoka made it 9-0, ripping a screaming low line drive that skipped off Zabat's hand for an RBI single.
The Argos got a run in the fifth and had the game-extending run at third but Stockslager got a strikeout and ground out to end the game.
Najera continued to swing a hot bat for the 'Swords, going 3-for-4 with three runs and two RBI. Since the start of the current road trip, she has four multi-hit games and is batting .565 (13-for-23) with nine runs and eight RBI. Matsuoka was 2-for-3 with a run and two RBI while Henmi was 2-for-2 with a run and RBI.
Stockslager won her second straight start, tossing the complete-game five-hitter while striking out five in addition to her RBI in the fourth.
Delany Pamplin took the loss to fall to 1-11, giving up seven runs on six hits and four walks in 3 1/3 innings. Garcia tossed the final 1 2/3 frames, allowing two runs on three hits.
The Silverswords will take a break from conference action this weekend when they play in the Tournament of Champions in Turlock, Calif. They'll face a pair of nationally-ranked squads, Chico State and Sonoma State on Friday.
