HONOLULU – The third time proved to be the charm for the Chaminade University softball team's season-opener.
 
A day after rain scrubbed the Silverswords' season-opener against Rollins College at Patsy T. Mink Central O'ahu Regional Park, the weather on Saturday morning again refused to cooperate, prompting a shift of venues from Waipahu to Sand Island Park with the start time pushed back an hour.
 
This time the third attempt to get Opening Day going was successful as the clouds and rain gave way to sunny conditions in town.
 
However, playing without the services of an injured Rainelle Matsuoka (Honolulu/Kaiser), the team's leading hitter and run-producer last year, the 'Swords couldn't get the bats going, getting three combined hits on the afternoon, dropping the opener, 2-1, as well as the nightcap, 7-0.
 
Chaminade started the year 0-2 while the Tars, also making their season debut, are 2-0.
 
 
Game 1
Chaminade was staring down the barrel of a no-hitter until with two outs in the fourth when Malia Ka`akimaka-Moisa (Ewa Beach, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Campbell) squibbed a pitch up the middle.
 
Both teams couldn't push runs across the plate until the fifth inning. A double brought in Rollins' first two runs while the 'Swords countered in their half of the fifth when Michelle Sasaki (Kaneohe, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Kalaheo) scored on a wild pitch to cut the deficit to 2-1.
 
The 'Swords managed to get the tying run on board in the bottom of the seventh when pinch-hitter Alexas Presto-Ahsing (Pearl City, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Pearl City) induced a two-out walk but was left stranded there.
 
Madelyn Stockslager (Torrance, Calif./South) went the distance for the Silverswords, scattering eight hits with four strikeouts to take the loss.
 
 
Game 2
Rollins wasted no time by putting up a five-spot in the first frame off starter Kayla Higuchi (Aiea, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Aiea). But the senior settled down and did not allow a run until the fifth.
 
Kayla Henmi (Torrance, Calif./South) got the Silverswords' first hit of the game on a bloop single to centerfield in the third. Then Chaminade finally got its second hit in the fourth inning on Ashlyn Yagin's (Ewa Beach, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Campbell) double to the left-center gap with Kayla Russell (Honolulu/Kaiser) moving to third. But two infield pop-ups ended the frame.
 
The 'Swords had chances to plate runs in the fifth and again in the seventh, the latter inning with runners at first and second with no outs. But Rollins' centerfielder Jordan Davis made a running, shoestring catch on Henmi's sinking fly ball to shallow center and with the 'Swords runners on the move, Davis started an 8-4-3 triple play to end the game.
 
Despite allowing 13 hits and taking the loss, Higuchi persevered through the game and demonstrated good command by issuing just one walk.
 
The Silverswords are back in action on Valentine's Day when they face Pacific University of Oregon in a four-game series at CORP Field on February 14 and 15. Both days have an early first-pitch start time of 11 a.m.