HONOLULU – The Chaminade University softball team scored in just two of their 14 total innings during their Pacific West Conference opening series against in-state rival University of Hawai'i Hilo.
That was basically all they needed.
Behind superb pitching from
Jaeda Cabunoc (Kaneohe, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Roosevelt) and
Taylor Genera (Norwalk, Calif./Whitney) along with timely hitting, the Silverswords swept the Vulcans, 3-2 and 5-1, at Sand Island Park's Maryknoll Field.
The duo scattered 13 total hits and held UH Hilo to just 4-of-13 with runners in scoring position.
Kobe Brown (Mililani, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Mililani) went 3-for-5 with a run and RBI in the twin bill while
Cheyne Obara (Pearl City, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Pearl City) and
Keaolani Takemura (Pearl City, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Mid-Pacific Institute) each had two RBI.
For Chaminade (4-2, 2-0 PacWest), it represented its first sweep of UH Hilo (4-4, 2-2 PacWest) at home since 2001. The 'Swords swept two-game series from the Vulcans last year in Kailua-Kona on the Big Island and in 2013 in Hilo.
Game 1: CUH 3, UHH 2
In their Saturday doubleheader sweep at Hawai'i Pacific University, UH Hilo scored four and three first-inning runs, respectively. But it was Chaminade – which unveiled its new gunmetal grey uniforms – which got the first inning blows in.
With runners at the corners and no out, Brown laced an RBI single to center for the game's first run. Three batters later, Cabunoc's bases-loaded blooper just over the outstretched arm of the second baseman brought home the second run. Takemura hit an RBI sacrifice fly for a 3-0 'Swords lead.
Meanwhile Cabunoc was cruising along but was touched for two runs in the fifth. The Vulcans had runners at second and third with no out but Cabunoc got two key putouts by third baseman
Hailey Matsumura (Honolulu/Saint Francis HS). The junior made an outstretched catch in foul territory for the first out then tagged the runner at third on a hard hit ground ball for the second which helped Cabunoc get out trouble.
Then in the top of the seventh, UH Hilo had the tying and go-ahead runs at second and third but Cabunoc got Brandee Chinen to fly out to right to end the game.
Cabunoc went the distance, allowing two runs on seven hits, improving to 2-1 on the year. She also had two of the Silverswords' four hits.
Sara Bhatt lasted just one inning in suffering her first loss of the year to fall to 3-1.
Game 2: CUH 5, UHH 1
An error to lead off the bottom of the third inning helped Chaminade load the bases with no out. Obara laced a double towards the left-field corner to plate two.
Chasity McKean (Kapolei, O'ahu, Hawai'i/College of Southern Nevada/Kapolei HS) and Takemura had RBIs on a single and sacrifice fly, respectively, to make it 4-0.
Taryn Fujioka (Pearl City, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Pearl City) then put the finishing touches on the inning, going opposite field down the left field line to drive in her first career run, the 'Swords' fifth of the inning.
The Vulcans managed to scratch a run out in the fifth – the first allowed by Genera this season – but that would be it. She stranded two runners on in the sixth and sat UH Hilo down in order in the seventh to complete the home series sweep.
Genera scattered six hits with a strikeout and a walk to improve to 2-0 on the year with 0.50 ERA.
Tehani Seto, who made her first collegiate start, took the loss to fall to 0-1.
The Silverswords are next in action on Sunday, March 6 when they host Dominican University of California in a four-game PacWest series at Sand Island Field. First pitch is slated for 12 p.m.
