KANEOHE, O'ahu, Hawai'i – The Chaminade University softball team returned to the field for the first time in nearly two weeks, renewing their intercity rivalry with Hawai'i Pacific University.
The Sharks tacked on an early run then added two more late to down the Silverswords, 3-0, Saturday at Howard Okita Field.
With heavy rains saturating Okita Field Friday and well into the early morning hours of Saturday, just one game was played while the second was called off. First pitch was also pushed back 90 minutes after the original noon start time.
Hawai'i Pacific, which celebrated its Senior Day, finished the season 22-18 and 15-14 in the Pacific West Conference. Chaminade fell to 10-31 and 6-23. HPU also won all three games in the series.
The Sharks got on the board first inning with a run-scoring single from Noelani Boyer while the 'Swords had several scoring chances but couldn't get the big hit. They stranded runners at second and third in the first inning and also couldn't take advantage of a one-out, two-base error in the fourth when Boyer had
Devan Dickson's (Avondale, Ariz./Westview) routine grounder go through the wickets and rolled all the way to the fence.
Meanwhile HPU got two insurance runs in the sixth when the Sharks loaded the bases on
Madelyn Stockslager (Torrance, Calif./South) who then plunked a batter with the bases loaded then issued a bases-loaded walk.
Chaminade managed to get two runners on via an error and a single from
Kayla Russell (Honolulu/Kaiser), bringing the tying run to the plate but a groundout to third ended the game.
The 'Swords mustered just four hits against HPU starter Gabriella Nowack. Two were singles by Russell while
Ashlyn Yagin (Ewa Beach, Hawai'i/Campbell) had another.
Kayla Henmi (Torrance, Calif./South) got an infield hit in the first inning to extend her hitting streak to seven games.
Dickson pitched the first three innings for Chaminade, allowing two hits and a walk while falling to 3-16. Stockslager tossed the final three, surrendering four hits and two walks.
The 'Swords did turn a 6-3 double-play to finish the second inning, their 27
th twin killing of the season which upped their per-game average to 0.659, the highest in the nation.
Nowack got the win for HPU to finish her season at 5-4.
The Silverswords will wrap up the season next Saturday when they host Hawai'i Hilo at Patsy T. Mink Central Regional Park at 12 p.m.
Kaitlin Kim (Kahului, Hawai'i/St.Anthony), a redshirt junior who will forgo her final year of athletic eligibility, will be honored as the team's lone senior. Live audio of both games of the doubleheader will be on GoSwords.com.
