WAIPAHU, O'ahu, Hawai'i – The Chaminade University and University of British Columbia softball teams wrapped up their second doubleheader in as many days with an unusual split at Patsy T. Mink Central O'ahu Regional Softball Complex.
The run-starved Silverswords finally were able to push runs across the plate while getting another masterful pitching performance by ace
Madelyn Stockslager (Torrance, Calif./South) in their six-inning, run-rule 8-0 win in the first game.
The Thunderbirds came right back and did the same in the nightcap, mashing Chaminade pitching for 15 third-inning runs in their 16-2 victory.
The teams split their four-game series two games apiece. Chaminade is 3-4 on the season while UBC is 2-2.
Game 1
The Silverswords got on the board by manufacturing a run in the first inning.
Makena Kealoha (Corona, Calif./Norco) led off with a bloop single that landed inside the right field line then moved to second on
Kayla Henmi's (Torrance, Calif./South) sacrifice bunt. A
Malia Ka`akimaka-Moisa (Ewa Beach, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Campbell) single moved Kealoha to third who came home on a passed ball.
Chaminade got the leadoff batter on board for the second straight inning when
Maureen Hutchinson (Curtisville, Pa./Deer Lake) singled. The 'Swords again executed their small-ball tactic when
Cheyne Obara (Pearl City, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Pearl City) reached on an error on her sacrifice bunt followed by another sacrifice, this time by Kealoha, moving Hutchinson to third and Obara to second.
Alexis Velazquez (Fontana, Calif./Howard College/Alta Loma HS) rewarded the team by punching a bouncer up the middle to bring both runners home for a 3-0 lead.
Small-ball again paid off in the fourth when Henmi beat a drawn-in infield with a two-out dribbler to center, stole second then raced home on Velazquez's RBI single, her third of the game, putting Chaminade up 4-0.
The 'Swords then had their biggest run-producing inning of the season in the sixth. The Thunderbirds did not retire any batters in the inning with Kealoha and Henmi delivering RBI singles while Kealoha and Ka'akimaka-Moisa scored on a wild pitch and passed ball, respectively, the latter being the mercy-rule game-winner.
While Chaminade was busy creating runs, Stockslager quietly put together her third consecutive pitching gem. She faced the minimum through four and worked out of a lead-off double in the fifth. She also got excellent defense behind her which included; Obara's gunning down Avery Hilpert at second when she tried for extra bases on a bloop single to right to open the game; an inning-ending 6-3 double-play in the second,;Velazquez's diving catch to hold the runner at second in the fifth; and
Ashlyn Yagin's (Ewa Beach, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Campbell) catch just shy of the fence in the sixth.
Chaminade's top of the order was a combined 7-for-11 at the plate with four runs and four driven in. Kealoha, Henmi and Velazquez each had two knocks. All nine of the 'Swords' hits were singles.
Stockslager improved to 3-1 by striking out four.
Kaia Gyorfi took the loss for the T-Birds to fall to 0-2.
Game 2
Like they did in the first game, the Silverswords scratched out a run in the first on a sacrifice fly by
Hailey Matsumura (Honolulu/Saint Francis).
The T-Birds answered with a run in the second and in the third, Chaminade also responded on three singles which included a lead-off opposite field bouncer by
Marlisa Berrelleza (Indio, Calif./Indio), the freshman's first career hit. Henmi then walked with the bases loaded to give the Silverswords a 2-1 lead.
But in the third, everything went UBC's way. The T-Birds batted around twice without an out being recorded.
Michelle Sasaki (Kaneohe, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Kalaheo), who the previous night made her pitching debut and on Monday got her first career start, allowed 10 runs.
Karyna Baldomino (Diamond Bar, Calif./Rowland) and
Alexas Presto-Ahsing (Pearl City, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Pearl City) were both summoned to put out the fire despite both also making their debuts in the circle. When the dust settled, 15 runs scored on 11 hits in the inning while the 'Swords also hurt themselves with three errors.
Stockslager tossed the final two innings for the 'Swords and allowed just two infield singles. She did not allow any runs, extending her scoreless streak to a school-record 24 innings with her ERA dropping to a miniscule 0.48 which leads the Pacific West Conference.
The 'Swords got six hits in the game to the T-Birds' 16. Sasaki took the loss to fall to 0-1 while UBC's Damara Begin improved to 2-0 with the win.
The Silverswords open PacWest action Friday against intercity rival Hawai'i Pacific University at CORP Softball Complex. First pitch of the twin bill is set for 3:30 p.m. with live streaming audio on GoSwords.com.
