WAIPAHU, O'ahu, Hawai'i – The Chaminade University softball team opened Pacific West Conference play Friday with a doubleheader loss to crosstown rival Hawai'i Pacific University at Patsy T. Mink Central O'ahu Regional Park Softball Complex.
The Silverswords were run-ruled in the first game, 12-0, then dropped the nightcap, 11-3.
Kayla Henmi (Torrance, Calif./South) got two hits in both games to extend her hitting streak to four and her reached base streak to nine while freshman
Marlisa Berrelleza (Indio, Calif./Indio) smacked a three-run homer in the second game.
Chaminade fell to 3-6 overall and 0-2 in the PacWest. HPU even its overall record to 8-8 and is 2-0 in the conference. The Sharks also secured four points in the PacWest Hawai'i Challenge softball standings.
Game 1
After two scoreless innings, the Sharks got on the board with a sacrifice fly, ending
Madelyn Stockslager's (Torrance, Calif./South) streak of not allowing an earned run at 27 1/3 innings. HPU proceeded to get six straight hits before Stockslager got the final two outs of the inning. However the damage was done with six runs crossing the plate.
HPU tacked on three in the fourth and three in the sixth to put the eight-run rule in effect.
Despite being shutout, the 'Swords had base hits in each inning and had runners in scoring position in the first and fourth frames, the latter being Chaminade's best scoring chance. The Silverswords loaded the bases with two out but
Makena Kealoha's (Corona, Calif./Norco) liner was snagged at first.
Henmi and
Alexis Velazquez (Fontana, Calif./Howard College/Alta Loma HS) each had two hits for the 'Swords. Stockslager fell to 3-2 after allowing 12 runs on 16 hits with three strikeouts.
Jordan Curry picked up the win for HPU, improving to 6-2. Curry, along with Brandi Leong and Mary Dungey, each drove in two.
Game 2
With No. 2 starter
Kayla Higuchi (Aiea, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Aiea) still nursing an injury,
Michelle Sasaki (Kaneohe, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Kalaheo) got her second career start in the circle. The Sharks scratched out a run in the first and threatened to add more with runners at second and third in the second inning. With one out, Henmi made a spectacular diving catch in left center to prevent both runners from scoring.
HPU managed to add single runs in the third and fifth innings and two in the fourth for a 5-0 lead after five.
In the bottom of the sixth, Henmi and Velazquez led off with back-to-back singles then Berrelleza launched her first career homer to dead-central, putting the 'Swords right back in the game, trailing 5-3.
But the Sharks responded with a seventh-inning lead-off blast from Leipua Kaui. Two batters later, Sasaki's pitching counterpart, Emilee Leonard hit a two-run homer to make it 8-3. HPU plated two more runs then scored its 11th when a charging Kealoha dropped a Kaui's fly ball in shallow right field, allowing the run to score. However Kealoha recovered and threw out Kaui trying to reach second to end the inning.
Leonard retired the 'Swords in order in the bottom of the inning to get her first win of the season (1-2). Leonard and Sierra Dias both had three RBI for the Sharks.
Despite the rough patches, Sasaki (0-2) endured by scattering 11 hits in her first career complete game. She also got her first career strikeout which ended the fifth. Henmi got two hits for the second straight game to extend her hitting and reached-base streaks.
Malia Ka`akimaka-Moisa (Ewa Beach, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Campbell) singled in both games and has a seven-game reached-base streak.
The 'Swords also flashed the leather in the second game. Along with Henmi's second-inning run-saving catch, Sasaki made a diving catch on a bunted pop-up in the sixth. Normal starting catcher
Kiana Ulufale (Ewa Beach, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Campbell) got the nod at third base and robbed Leonard of extra bases with a back-handed stab on a one-hopper and, in foul territory, threw Leonard out to end the third.
The Silverswords return to action Sunday when they travel off O'ahu for the first time this season at Hawai'i Hilo on the Big Island. The twin bill features a reunion for Berrelleza and
Cheyne Obara (Pearl City, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Pearl City) whose respective sisters, Megan Berrelleza and Darian Obara, are members of the Vulcans' squad. First pitch is scheduled for 12 p.m.
