BRISBANE, Calif. – The Chamiande University softball team wrapped up their four-game series against Academy of Art Wednesday with a doubleheader split at Mission Blue Field.
The Silverswords (10-24, 6-16 Pacific West Conference) won the first game, 5-3, to snap the Urban Knights' program-record 10-game winning streak. ART U (27-12, 10-6 PacWest) won the second, 1-0, to capture the season series.
Game 1
Earlier in the day, ART U's Brooke Larson was named the NFCA National Pitcher of the Week after her dominant performance at last weekend's Tournament of Champions. A first-inning CUH error helped stake her to a 1-0 lead and it appeared that, like in Monday's contest, it would be enough for the Urban Knights.
But Larson lost command of her pitches in the third with back-to-back two-out walks.
Rainelle Matsuoka (Honolulu/Kaiser) made her pay with a flare that dropped into shallow right to tie the game at 1. The run ended Larson's scoreless innings streak at 38 1/3 innings.
Then in the fifth, the 'Swords did more damage against Larsen, loading the bases with no out. Matsuoka then blistered a line-drive double into the left-center gap, clearing the bases to put Chaminade up 4-1, ending Larson's day in the circle.
The 'Swords tacked on another run in the sixth when
Jackie Najera (Santa Ana, Calif./Segerstrom) got an RBI-groundout which brought home
Makena Kealoha (Corona, Calif./Norco), putting Chaminade up 5-1.
The Urban Knights mounted a comeback in their half of the frame with Larson driving in a pair of runs with no outs. Then with one out with runners on the corners, Jayda Alaan was called out for leaving the first base bag early, eliminating the tying run on base.
Madelyn Stockslager (Torrance, Calif./South) then struck out Lauryn Henderson to end the inning. She retired the side in order in the seventh to preserve the win.
In the battle of freshmen hurlers, Stockslager outdueled Larson scattering six hits with two earned runs. Meanwhile Larson lasted just four innings, allowing three runs on four hits. Stockslager improved to 7-9 while Larson fell to 15-3.
Matsuoka had four RBI and two of Chaminade's five hits. Najera singled in the fifth to extend her hitting streak to a school-record 16 games. The record was previously held by Keli-Grace Kaowili-Saniatan who hit in 15 straight in March 2010. Najera went 2-for-5 and a walk against Larsen in the head-to-head match-up of the PacWest Freshman and Player of the Week, respectively.
Game 2
The final game of the four-game series turned out to be a pitchers' duel between Chaminade's
Devan Dickson and ART U's Cecilia Lopez.
Both teams were able to get base runners on board but none could cross the plate.
But that changed in the home half of the fifth. With a runner at second with one out, Matsuoka gathered in a hopper but her throw to first in what should have been the second out was dropped. After a walk to load the bases, the 'Swords committed another miscue when Dickson fielded a comebacker but instead of coming home for the force, looked to second to start a double play. She then pirouetted without making the throw with the only play being at first to get the out. However, Chaminade was able to get out of the inning with only one run allowed.
But the 'Swords were unable to get base runners in the next two innings and were retired in order in the sixth and seventh.
Dickson was the hard-luck loser with her record dropping to 3-11 despite allowing just five hits. The only run she allowed was unearned.
Lopez allowed just four hits and did not issue a walk to improve to 7-4.
Najera had a chance to extend the streak in the sixth when she laced a fly ball to right-center but ART U centerfielder Gabi Hirsch made a running catch to deny her the hit.
The Silverswords wrap their 17-game road trip Friday at Holy Names.
