WAIPAHU, O'ahu, Hawai'i – The Chaminade University softball team wrapped up a 12-game season-opening home stand Tuesday by concluding their four-game series against Pacific West Conference leaders, Biola University.
Although the Eagles captured both games of the second twin bill, 4-3 and 3-0, to win the series, the Silverswords continued to get effective work inside the circle.
Chaminade hurlers
Madelyn Stockslager (Torrance, Calif./South) and
Taylor Genera (Norwalk, Calif./Whitney) helped keep the Biola bats in check for the most part.
The 12 total runs they allowed is the fewest they allowed to the Eagles in a four-game series since they joined the PacWest in 2018. Their ERA through 12 games is 2.67, third-best in the conference.
Kayla Russell (Honolulu/Kaiser) started both games in centerfield and came away with several important and spectacular defensive gems.
The Silverswords are 3-9 overall and 1-9 in the PacWest. Biola is 18-5 and has a 13-3 PacWest record, the best in the conference.
Game 1 (Biola 4, CUH 3)
The 'Swords tacked on the game's first run in the bottom of the first inning when
Jaeda Cabunoc (Kaneohe, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Roosevelt) laced a double into the left-field corner, allowing
Malia Ka`akimaka-Moisa (Ewa Beach, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Campbell) to trot home. It was the freshman third baseman's team-leading sixth RBI of the season.
Genera, who got the first game start for the second straight day, kept the Eagles off the board until the fifth on an RBI groundout which tied it at 1.
After Biola tacked on three runs in the fifth to take a 4-1 lead, Chaminade responded in the home-half of the fifth.
Kobe Brown (Mililani, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Mililani) lined an RBI single to left, scoring Jehna Ramical (Visailia, Calif./El Diamonte), Brown's first career RBI.
With runners at first and second with one out, BU starter Paula Damas was pulled for ace Paige Austin. The 'Swords greeted the two-time All-PacWest pitcher with Cabunoc's second hit of the game which loaded the bases. Genera then hit a potential inning-ending squibber to shortstop but the throw was in the dirt, allowing
Yolanda Racaza (San Pedro, Calif./Port of Los Angeles) to score, making it a 4-3 deficit. Austin managed to get the third out without any more damage.
Biola nearly tacked on a run in the sixth but Russell, who played mostly first base and right field during her college career but was a centerfielder in high school, robbed Caitlin Fowble of extra bases, perhaps even a home run, but making a running catch and falling over the fence in left-center.
Chaminade managed to get the tying runs on board in both the sixth and seventh but Austin managed to work out of trouble in both innings to secure the win.
Genera (2-5) scattered seven hits and allowed three earned runs. Cabunoc and Brown each had two hits and drove in a run.
Damas, who suffered her first loss of the season on Monday, lasted 4 2/3 innings to get the win to improve to 4-1. Austin went the final 2 1/3 to earn her third save.
Game 2 (Biola 3, CUH 0)
When the lineup cards were submitted, it promised to be another solid pitching matchup with Stockslager facing Austin. It did not disappoint.
Although Stockslager faced traffic throughout, she managed to limit the damage, allowing a single run in the second and two in the fourth.
Chaminade would also put base runners on against Austin in all but the first inning. The 'Swords had a prime opportunity in the bottom of the fourth, walking the bases loaded. However the big hit eluded them as Austin managed to work out of the pickle.
Biola nearly had another run in the fifth when all-conference catcher Kayla Neff attempted to take second on a hit to the right-center gap. But Russell quickly got to the ball and fired a dart to
Hailey Matsumura (Honolulu/Saint Francis) at second to throw Neff out trying to stretch a single into a double. It turned out to be a big defensive play as two batters later, Sicili Brittingham doubled which would have brought Neff home if she were safe.
The 'Swords were able to get runners on in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings but none managed to get into scoring position.
Stockslager surrendered 12 hits but stranded 11 Biola runners. She struck out two but took the loss to fall to 1-4.
Austin got the complete-game shutout to improve to 12-1, becoming the PacWest's first 12-game winner this season. Brittingham was the hitting star of the game by going 4-for-4 and falling a triple shy of a cycle.
The 'Swords now embark on their annual long mid-March road trip which goes from northern California to the Tournament of Champions later in the month. The Silverswords start their 21-game, 18-day journey next Wednesday, March 18, when they face Notre Dame de Namur in a four-game series in Belmont, Calif.
