HONOLULU – The Chaminade University softball team concluded the Fall Preseason Classic on Sunday with a doubleheader against Fullerton College and host University of Hawai'i at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.
The Silverswords dropped both contests, 11-1 to Fullerton and 7-1 against host Hawai'i in the final game.
Despite finishing with a 1-3 record in the tournament, the 'Swords got valuable experience for their eight newcomers, seven of whom are freshmen.
For the second straight day,
Malia Ka`akimaka-Moisa (Ewa Beach, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Campbell) sent one out of the park, marking the first time since records were kept in 2008 the 'Swords had a player with multiple homers in the annual November exhibition tournament.
Hailey Matsumura (Honolulu/Saint Francis) had hits in both games.
Fullerton College 11, Chaminade 1
In last year's tournament, the Silverswords rallied from a 7-0 first inning deficit against the Hornets. On Sunday, they trailed 9-0. But there would be no epic rally this time.
Fullerton scored in each of the first five innings to grab a 11-1 lead. Chaminade's only run came in the top of fifth on an RBI fielder's choice by pinch-hitter
Kaitlyn Castillo (Makawao, Maui, Hawai'i/Kamehameha-Maui).
The 'Swords were held to one hit, Matsumura's single in the third.
Jaeda Cabunoc (Honolulu/Roosevelt) made her collegiate pitching debut after playing the first two games of the tournament at third base. The freshman went two innings allowing five runs, four earned, on six hits in taking the loss. Fellow freshman
Taylor Genera (Norwalk, Calif./Whitney) tossed the last four, allowing four earned runs on nine hits.
Hawai'I 7, Chaminade 1
Ka'akimaka-Moisa put Chaminade ahead, 1-0, with a towering solo blast to dead center, giving them a rare lead over their Division I cousins. It was the first-ever homer by a Silversword off a UH hurler since tournament statistics began being tracked in 2008.
The Rainbow Wahine tied it in the bottom of the second on an RBI groundout. The score remained deadlocked until the fifth when UH took a 2-1 lead on a bases loaded walk followed by an RBI base hit.
Hawai'i tacked on four more in the sixth for game's final margin.
Chaminade had several opportunities with runners in scoring position in earlier innings but couldn't get the big hit to take the lead.
The 'Swords had six hits against UH pitching, equaling their most hits against them which was last achieved in November 2017.
Madelyn Stockslager (Torrance, Calif./South) kept the Rainbow Wahine off balance, scattering eight hits while striking out four before running out of steam with two outs in the sixth. Genera came in and recorded the final out on a strikeout.
Of the six base knocks, four were by freshmen. Cabunoc,
Kobe Brown (Mililani, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Mililani),
Kailah Gates-Coyaso (Waianae, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Waianae) and Genera each singled off UH hurlers.
