KANEOHE, O'ahu, Hawai'i – The Chaminade University softball team dropped both ends of a Pacific West Conference doubleheader Saturday against intercity rival, Hawai'i Pacific University, at Howard Okita Field.
The Silverswords had a lead in the first game but couldn't hang on in the late innings as the Sharks rallied for a 2-1 win.
HPU won the nightcap, 8-0, in five innings to complete the season sweep.
Due to rains that hit Windward O'ahu late Friday into Saturday morning, first pitch was delayed by an hour to allow Okita Field to dry.
The 'Swords dropped to 11-33 overall and 8-24 in the PacWest while the Sharks are 31-22 and 22-12 in the conference, four games behind second-place Hawai'i Hilo.
Game 1
Both teams had base runners in the first.
Alexis Velazquez (Fontana, Calif./Howard College/Alta Loma HS) had a two-out single while
Madelyn Stockslager (Torrance, Calif./South) shrugged off a lead-off triple by Sierra Dias by inducing three straight groundouts.
Stockslager also worked out of a jam in the fourth after HPU putting runners at second and third with one out by getting a lineout and strikeout to get the 'Swords back in the dugout.
Chaminade finally broke through in the sixth.
Rainelle Matsuoka (Honoluolu/Kaiser) reached to lead off the frame when Sharks first baseman Brazzlyn Tovio-Asato dropped a low but catchable throw from across the diamond. A sacrifice bunt from
Maureen Hutchinson (Curtisville, Pa./Deer Lake) and another single from Velazquez put Matsuoka at third.
Malia Ka`akimaka-Moisa (Ewa Beach, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Campbell) reached on a force play which allowed Matsuoka to score, her team-leading 18th RBI of the season.
In the bottom of the inning, fate seemed to be on Chaminade's side when
Makena Kealoha (Corona, Calif./Norco) made a spectacular diving catch on Noel Saunders' sinking liner near the left-field line which took away extra bases from the HPU leftfielder.
But the tide quickly turned in HPU's favor with back-to-back doubles, the latter by pitcher Jordan Curry who helped her own cause by driving in the tying run. Then with two outs, Stockslager struck out Emilee Leonard but the pitch went to the backstop, allowing the go-ahead run to score.
Chaminade had a chance to knot the game in the seventh by putting the tying run just 60 feet away but the 'Swords couldn't get the equalizer across.
Stockslager went the distance, scattering six hits in taking yet another hard-luck loss to fall to 9-15. It's her eight time this season she's taken the loss in a game decided by two runs or less. She also had three Ks to push her total to 97 on the season while her ERA remains a solid 2.52. Velazquez had both Chaminade hits.
Curry, ranked seventh nationally in wins, improved to 19-8.
Game 2
HPU scored three runs through the first three innings off starter
Michelle Sasaki (Kaneohe, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Kalaheo) who made her eighth start of the year. The Sharks got a big fourth inning with four runs off both Sasaki and reliever
Alexas Presto-Ahsing (Pearl City, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Pearl City), the latter making just her second career appearance in the circle.
Meanwhile the 'Swords had several scoring opportunities as well, putting runners at the corners in the third and fourth innings. However they couldn't hit pay dirt both instances.
With one out in the fifth, a runner at third and up 7-0, HPU scored the game-ending run, lifting a fly ball to left field on a drawn-in outfield.
Matsuoka had half of the 'Swords' four hits including her team-best seventh double of the season coming in the third. Sasaki took the loss to fall to 1-6.
Mary Dungey had two knocks and a pair of RBIs for HPU with Leonard getting the win to improve to 10-8.
The Silverswords are off island next Saturday when they face UH Hilo, tentatively set for Vulcans Softball Field in Hilo. They are makeups of the original Feb. 24 twin bill that was postponed due to rain.
