LA MIRADA, Calif. – The Chaminade University softball team concluded the Southern California portion of their two-week road trip Tuesday by dropping the series finale against Biola University at Freedom Field.
The Silverswords were one strike away from picking up their first road win but were dashed by a two-run walk-off double in their 5-4 loss in the first game.
The Eagles completed the four-game sweep with the 10-2 win in the five innings.
Chaminade fell to 10-23 overall and 7-19 in the Pacific West Conference. Biola is 16-10 and 11-5 in the PacWest.
Game 1
It didn't take the 'Swords long to strike. Batting in the lead-off spot for the first time since her freshman season,
Rainelle Matsuoka (Honolulu/Kaiser) went oppo-taco, launching the second pitch of the game over the right field fence for her second homer of the season. It was Matsuoka's 22nd career jack, putting her just three behind
Brandi Sasaki, the school's all-time home run leader.
Chaminade added to its lead in the second, getting a two-out RBI knock from
Makena Kealoha (Corona, Calif./Norco). Biola starter Paula Damas was then yanked for Jennifer Morinishi but the pitching change did little to thwart the 'Swords' momentum.
Alexis Velazquez (Fontana, Calif./Howard College/Alta Loma HS) took Morinishi's first pitch to deep left, just missing a homer as the ball hit the base of the fence. However it allowed
Kayla Henmi (Torrance, Calif./South) and Kealoha to score which put the 'Swords up, 4-0.
While Chaminade starter
Madelyn Stockslager (Torrance, Calif./South) was cruising in the circle, the Silverswords continued to generate traffic on the base paths. However they could not deliver the knockout blow despite having runners in scoring position in the third, fourth and fifth innings.
After the Eagles got their first run in the fourth, they added two more in the sixth with the last run scoring when a throwing error to get the runner at third was thrown away. The runs cut the Silverswords' lead to 4-3.
The 'Swords again had the opportunity for an insurance run in the seventh with runners at the corners but again came away empty.
Chaminade's inability to deliver the knockout blow in earlier innings proved costly in the seventh. Biola loaded the bases but the 'Swords managed to get two outs. Stockslager faced Missy Poti and was one strike away from finishing the game. But Poti lined Stockslager's pitch into right center, falling directly between
Ashlyn Yagin (Ewa Beach, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Campbell) and Kealoha to bring home both the tying and winning runs.
Stockslager took the loss to fall to 8-10. Matsuoka and
Kiana Ulufale (Ewa Beach, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Campbell) each had two hits for the 'Swords.
Morinishi got the win to improve to 4-3.
Game 2
Chaminade found itself down in a hurry with Biola plating two runs in both the first and second innings.
The Silverswords got their first run of the game when
Hailey Matsumura (Honolulu/Saint Francis) drew a bases-loaded walk. They had a chance to tack on more but Kealoha, who was at third, was struck by the ball off the bat of
Karyna Baldomino (Diamond Bar, Calif./Rowland). The umpiring crew ruled that Kealoha was in fair territory and was declared out.
Biola continued to tack on runs, adding two more in the fourth and four in the fifth.
Chaminade got its second run in the fourth on an RBI single by
Cheyne Obara (Pearl City, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Pearl City).
Henmi and Obara each had two hits in the contest while Velazquez's fifth inning single extended her hitting streak to seven games.
Michelle Sasaki (Kaneohe, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Kalaheo) was charged with the loss to fall to 1-5 while Kaile Chavez (1-0) got the win.
The loss was the 12th straight for Chaminade and the 30th consecutive in Southern California.
The Silverswords head north to Turlock, Calif., and will open the Tournament of Champions on Friday against Cal State Dominguez Hills and Sonoma State.
