KAILUA-KONA, Hawai'i – The Chaminade University softball team came agonizingly close to getting their first win over Hawai'i Hilo since 2013.
But in the end the Vulcans managed to scratch out identical 2-1 wins in both games of a Pacific West Conference doubleheader Sunday at Kealakehe High School Field.
The Silverswords managed to limit the potent UH Hilo bats to just four total runs, the fewest in the series since sweeping a doubleheader in Hilo on April 14, 2013. The Vulcans came into Sunday with a .303 team batting average, fourth-best in the PacWest.
However the 'Swords continued to struggle in pushing runs across the plate. They've scored two runs or less for the seventh straight game and the 12
th time in their last 13.
Despite their offensive deficiencies, the Silverswords' defense turned three more double plays in the twin bill, giving them 26 on the season. They entered the week tied for third nationally in double plays per game at 0.61 and were tied with Cal State San Bernardino for total double plays.
Chaminade fell to 10-30 overall and 6-22 in the PacWest. UH Hilo, which has post-season aspirations while also honoring its seniors, improved to 25-13 and 13-7 to stay in fifth place of the conference standings.
Game 1
Chaminade's
Devan Dickson (Avondale, Ariz./Westview) and UH Hilo's Cyanne Fernandez were locked in a pitchers' duel throughout the contest. The 'Swords prevented the first run of the game in the third when Skylar Thomas raced home on a tag play but
Kayla Henmi (Torrance, Calif./South) fired a strike at home to prevent the run for an inning-ending double play.
The 'Swords finally struck pay dirt in the fifth when
Jackie Najera (Santa Ana, Calif./Segerstrom) coaxed a one-out walk then reached third on an error.
Rainelle Matsuoka (Honolulu/Kaiser) brought Najera home, slashing an RBI single down the left field line, giving Chaminade a 1-0 lead.
In the seventh, a lead-off walk to Kiarra Lincoln followed by a passed ball helped her get to third. Dickson managed to retire the Vulcans' two most dangerous hitters, Bailey Gaspar and Brinell Kaleikini, bringing the 'Swords within one out of victory. But Isabelle Mejia barely beat out Matsuoka's long throw to first on the potential game-ending putout. The infield single brought in Lincoln for the tying run, sending the game to extra innings.
Then in the ninth Gaspar ended it with a towering solo homer to center, her third walk-off jack of the season and her 11
th home run of the year.
Dickson was the hard-luck loser, falling to 3-15. She allowed just five hits and two walks with three strikeouts. Matsuoka had three hits while
Ashlyn Yagin (Ewa Beach, Hawai'i/Campbell) had two. Henmi singled in the third inning to extend her hitting streak to six games. However, the 'Swords stranded eight runners on base, six in scoring position.
Fernandez scattered seven hits with three Ks to improve to 15-5 on the season.
Game 2
Being staked to a 2-0 lead, Mejia took the circle for UH Hilo and kept Chaminade at bay, allowing just one base runner through four frames. In the fifth, the 'Swords had a scoring chance when
Kiana Ulufale (Ewa Beach, Hawai'i/Campbell) led off with a single. She managed to reach third but was thrown out at the plate on a fielder's choice.
Still down 2-0 going into the seventh, Ulufale – who entered the day without an extra base hit all year – finally got a hold of one, cranking a monstrous homer to left to lead off the frame. Mejia got two outs then Hilo shortstop Mari Kawano prevented the tying run to get aboard, robbing
Kayla Higuchi (Aiea, Hawai'i/Aiea) of a hit with a diving stop to end the game.
Matsuoka got two more knocks, giving her a five-hit day which also extended her reached-base streak to 13. Ulufale also had two hits for Chaminade.
Madelyn Stockslager (Torrance, Calif./South) scattered six hits, allowing four walks with three Ks in dropping to 7-12 on the year. The 'Swords also dropped their 18
th straight to the Vulcans.
Mejia got the complete-game win to improve to 4-5. No Vulcan got more than one hit in the nightcap.
The Silverswords will have 13 days off before returning to action on Saturday, April 28 with a twin bill at Hawai'i Pacific.
