WAIPAHU, O'ahu, Hawai'i – The Chaminade University softball team was back at Patsy T. Mink Central O'ahu Regional Park Softball Complex Monday as they looked to build upon their four-game winning streak.
Opening a four-game series against Holy Names, the Silverswords won the first game, 2-0. The victory extended their winning streak to five, the program's longest since April 2013 when they won seven straight.
However, the Hawks rebounded by winning the nightcap, 4-1.
Chaminade is 8-7 on the year, 5-4 in the Pacific West Conference while Holy Names is 5-12 and 4-8.
Game 1
Madelyn Stockslager (Torrance, Calif./South) was on her game early, opening the contest by striking out the side.
Despite allowing a single by
Kayla Henmi (Torrance, Calif./South) in the second inning, Holy Names' hurler Chailey Stewart faced the minimum through the first eight batters until
Cheyne Obara (Pearl City, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Pearl City) recorded her first career extra-base hit, a double that bounced over the third base bag.
In the bottom of the four with runners at the corners and two outs, Hawks' third baseman Kayla Hall booted a one-hopper by
Makena Kealoha (Corona, Calif./Norco), allowing
Alexis Velazquez (Fontana, Calif./Howard College/Alta Loma HS) to scamper home for the game's first run. Then on the very next pitch to
Ashlyn Yagin (Ewa Beach, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Campbell), HNU catcher Kiana Evans attempted to pick off
Malia Ka`akimaka-Moisa (Ewa Beach, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Campbell) at third. The throw sailed into left field, allowing the second unearned run of the game to score.
Meanwhile Stockslager continued to deal. The sophomore did not allow a baserunner through 4 1/3 frames before Tailor Goods broke up the perfect game with a single to left.
The Hawks did threaten by putting the tying run at second in the sixth but Stockslager K'd pinch-hitter Mattea Carveiro to put the inning down.
After a lead-off single by Cassidy Simon in the top of the seventh which brought the tying run to the plate, Silverswords' shortstop
Hailey Matsumura (Honolulu/Saint Francis) made a Gold Glove play, making a backhanded stop moving to her right and throwing out Hall at first for the second out. The freshman's outstanding defense not only prevented the go-ahead run from coming to the plate but prevented Simon from moving to third. Matsumura made a more routine grounder which ended the game and extended Chaminade's winning streak.
Stockslager (6-2) had yet another gem for the royal blue and white, tossing a four-hitter with seven strikeouts and no walks. She did not allow an earned run for the second straight game and lowered her ERA to 1.81.
Stewart was just as effective, allowing just five Silversword knocks but still was charged with the loss to fall to 0-6.
Game 2
The Hawks wasted no time by tacking on a run in the first off starter
Michelle Sasaki (Kaneohe, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Kalaheo) but she did manage to get out of a runners-on-second-and-third jam, allowing just the single run.
Down 2-0 in the fourth, the 'Swords plated a run when pinch-hitter
Alexas Presto-Ahsing's (Pearl City, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Pearl City) grounder was mishandled at second base, allowing
Rainelle Matsuoka (Honolulu/Kaiser) to trot home and Ka'akimaka-Moisa moving to third. Yagin nearly tied the game but her bouncer towards the right side was just foul of the first base bag.
HNU picked up a third run in the fifth but
Maureen Hutchinson (Curtisville, Pa./Deer Lake), a defensive replacement in the second inning, made a spectacular diving snare in right-center, robbing the Hawks of a second run in the inning.
Meanwhile HNU Synphony Hall was making sweet music, throwing a no-hitter through 4 1/3 frames before Hutchinson ended the no-no with a single to center. Holy Names added its fourth run in the seventh but Hall retired the 'Swords in their half despite Obara's one-out single.
Despite scattering 10 hits and taking the loss to fall to 1-3, Sasaki pitched effectively against a dangerous Hawks' lineup that put up 10 runs at Hawai'i Hilo on Friday.
Hall struck out seven for Holy Names and allowed four hits to get the win, evening her record to 3-3.
The Silverswords and Hawks conclude the series on Tuesday with first pitch of the doubleheader at CORP Softball Complex set for 3:30 p.m. Live streaming audio will be available on GoSwords.com.
