HONOLULU – The Chaminade University softball team returned to action Friday, facing the University of Hawai'i in an exhibition doubleheader at the newly refurbished Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium where fans were allowed into the facility for the first time in two years.
Although the Silveswords lost both games by 4-0 and 12-2 counts, it was a rare opportunity for the 'Swords to face their Division I neighbors just down Waialae Avenue during their championship season although the results and statistics did not count. It also gave them a chance to scrape off the rust after not being in action since Feb. 2.
The meeting was a result of the University of British Columbia canceling their games against both teams which was originally scheduled for this week.
Game 1: UH 4, CUH 0
The Silverswords got base runners on board in each inning which included an infield hit from
Kobe Brown (Mililani, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Mililani) in the first, a leadoff walk from
Haley Hayakawa (Torrance, Calif./South) in the third and a two-out double from
Jaeda Cabunoc (Kaneohe, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Roosevelt) in the fourth and a leadoff single by
Malia Ka`akimaka-Moisa (Ewa Beach, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Campbell) in the sixth.
Hayakawa and Cabunoc both advanced all the way to third base before being left stranded in their respective innings.
Meanwhile Cabunoc, CUH's starter, allowed four UH runs in the first but settled down after the second. The junior retired nine of the next 13 batters to keep the 'Bows off the scoreboard.
Taylor Genera (Norwalk, Calif./Whitney), making her first appearance of the year including the fall non-championship season, came out of the pen in the fifth and tossed two hitless innings which included a perfect sixth.
The 'Swords managed to get five hits off UH hurlers, two from Ka'akimaka-Moisa, but stranded 10 base runners. Cabunoc took the loss but she and Genera held Hawai'i to six hits. Chloe Borges got the win for the Rainbow Wahine.
Game 2: UH 12, CUH 2 (6 inn.)
Hayakawa led off the game with an infield hit then
Cheyne Obara (Pearl City, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Pearl City) laid down a sacrifice bunt but a catching error at first base allowed both runners to be safe with Hayakawa moving to third.
Brown drove Hayakawa in on a ground ball followed by Ka'akimaka-Moisa's sharp single up the middle to plate Obara for the second run, giving the 'Swords a rare lead over their D-I counterparts.
But like they did in the first game, UH put up a five spot in the bottom of the inning to take a 5-2 lead.
Cabunoc relieved Genera – who was on an innings limit – in the second and allowed six runs over the next three innings. However, she did flash her glove by snagging two laser comebackers in the third.
Charlize De Jesus (Colonia, N.J./Colonia) came in with two outs in the fourth and, after allowing a single, got pinch-hitter Chloe Agueda to ground out to end the inning.
Down 12-2 in the top of the fifth, the 'Swords were not able to get the necessary three runs to continue the game.
Genera got the loss while UH's Ashley Murphy earned the win.
The 'Swords did not commit an error during the doubleheader. And in a lineup oddity, Hayakawa was the leadoff batter in the first six of her seven total at-bats of the doubleheader.
The Silverswords (1-1) will resume regular season action Monday when they host Western Oregon at McKinley High School Field. First pitch of the twin bill begins at noon.
