TURLOCK, Calif. – The Chaminade University softball team opened the Tournament of Champions presented by the City of Turlock with a split of two nationally-ranked foes Friday at the Pedretti Sports Complex.
The Silverswords lost to No. 3 Chico State, 3-1, to open the tournament but rebounded in their second game with a resounding 9-2 thumping of 13
th-ranked Sonoma State which the 'Swords rallied from being down 2-0 with three runs in the third and six in the sixth. It was their first win over a nationally-ranked foe since March 2015.
vs. Chico State
Facing the No. 3 ranked team in the nation for the second time this season (Dixie State on March 12), Chaminade gift-wrapped a first-inning run on a dropped fly ball which should have ended the inning.
The Wildcats added two more in the sixth for a 3-0 lead but Chaminade got its lone run in the seventh on
Kaitlin Kim's (Kahului, Hawai'i/St. Anthony) single to centerfield scooted under the glove of Kristin Worley, allowing
Kayla Higuchi (Aiea, Hawai'i/Aiea) to score.
Devan Dickson (Avondale, Ariz./Westview) look the loss to drop to 3-8. Chico State's Haley Gilham picked up the win.
vs. Sonoma State
After spotting the Seawolves two runs with temperatures dropping into the 40s, Chaminade scored three runs in the third behind consecutive RBI doubles from
Jackie Najera (Santa Ana, Calif./Segerstrom) and
Ashlyn Yagin (Ewa Beach, Hawai'i/Campbell) and an RBI single from
Rainelle Matsuoka (Honolulu/Kaiser). The three-run third gave the 'Swords a 3-2 lead.
In the sixth, the Silverswords broke the game wide open.
Kayla Russell (Honolulu/Kaiser) doubled into left to plate
Kayla Henmi (Torrance, Calif./South). Najera followed with a double off the left field fence to bring two more runs home. After Yagin singled to put runners on the corners, Matsuoka delivered the game's big blow, crushing a three-run homer down the left-field line to put the 'Swords ahead 9-2.
Meanwhile starter
Madelyn Stockslager (Torrance, Calif./South) held the Sonoma State bats in check, scattering seven hits while striking out eight to pick up the win, improving to 6-7. Only one of the two runs she surrendered were earned.
Najera, Yagin and Matsuoka, Chaminade's top three batters in the lineup card, were a combined 7-for-12, five runs and eight driven in. Both of Najera's hits were doubles in extending her hitting streak to 10 games while Yagin tied her career-high with three hits. Matsuoka (2-for-4) had four RBI and her sixth-inning homer was her fifth of the season. She also became just the second Silverswords to reach 20 career homers.
Sonoma's Brielle Vidmar took the loss to fall to 9-3.
The Silverswords continue the TOC Saturday when they face St. Martin's and Concordia Portland at the Pedretti Sports Complex.
