TURLOCK, Calif. – The Chaminade University dropped their final two games of the Tournament of Champions Presented by the City of Turlock Sunday.
For the second straight game, the Silverswords couldn't hang on to a late lead in their first game, 4-3, to Cal State San Marcos at Pedretti Regional Park.
Cal State San Bernardino then pounced on the 'Swords early in a 9-1, five-inning decision at the Turlock Regional Sports Complex.
Jackie Najera (Santa Ana, Calif./Segerstrom) continued swinging a hot bat, going a combined 5-for-7 with a pair of doubles and a run.
Chaminade fell to 9-21 on the year.
vs. Cal State San Marcos
Najera opened the game with a double to the left-field wall, followed by singles from
Ashlyn Yagin (Ewa Beach, Hawai'i/Campbell) and
Rainelle Matsuoka (Honolulu/Kaiser).
Kiana Ulufale (Ewa Beach, Hawai'i/Campbell) lifted a sacrifice fly to left as Najera slid to just beat the tag at the plate for the game's first run.
Kayla Henmi (Torrance, Calif./South) then bounced an RBI single to left then Cougars shortstop Sara Whelehon bobbled
Makena Kealoha's (Corona, Calif./Norco) bouncer to bring home another to put Chaminade up 3-0.
CSUSM got a run in its half of the first when Karen Roman was plunked with the bases loaded.
But Chaminade's bats then fell silent, getting two hits over the next four innings. Meanwhile San Marcos scored a run in the third and got the tying and go-ahead runs in the fifth.
In the top of the seventh, Najera blooped a two-out single to center then Yagin lined a single up the middle to put Najera into scoring position. However the 'Swords couldn't bring both runners in.
Najera was 3-for-4 while Yagin went 2-for-4 and Henmi 2-for-4.
Madelyn Stockslager (Torrance, Calif./South) went the distance, tossing six innings with four strikeouts, dropping to 6-8 on the year.
Roman drove in three runs for Cal State San Marcos (7-26) while Caitlin Vineyard got the complete-game win to improve to 4-12.
vs. Cal State San Bernardino
After Chaminade moved locations from Pedretti to Turlock Regional, the Coyotes struck in the bottom of the first when Jessica Brown lifted a two-out sky-high fly ball to center which should've ended the inning. But as both Yagin and Matsuoka converged, both fielders lost it in the sun with the ball dropping in shallow center to extend the inning. That opened the door for consecutive RBI singles to give CSUSB a 2-0 lead.
San Bernardino then got four more in the second to go up 6-0.
In the fifth,
Kayla Russell (Honolulu/Kaiser) lined a base hit to left then Najera boomed a double over the head of the right fielder, moving Russell to third. Yagin then hit a hard bouncer which deflected off the third baseman's glove to allow Russell to score.
But the Coyotes ended the game via the run-rule on Monica Maddox's two-run single to center.
Devan Dickson (Avondale, Ariz./Westview) fell to 3-10, allowing 13 hits and nine runs. Najera and Russell each had two hits for the 'Swords.
Najera, who extended her hitting streak to 13, was named to the All-Tournament Team after hitting .474 (9-for-19) in the TOC with five doubles, three RBI and four runs. She is only the third 'Sword to receive the honor (Rayna Strom-Okimoto, Brandi Sasaki).
Amanda Ramirez got the win for Cal State San Bernardino (18-10) to improve to 11-7.
The Silverswords will remain on the road and resume Pacific West Conference play as they begin a four-game series Tuesday at Academy of Art in Brisbane, Calif.
