HONOLULU – The Chaminade University softball team unveiled their new house Sunday, earning a split of Saint Martin's University.
The Silverswords fittingly were winners in their new digs – Silversword Field at Sand Island Park – taking the first game, 9-2, in the team's Opening Day game.
The Saints would return the favor in the nightcap with an 8-0 win in five innings.
Chasity McKean (Kapolei, O'ahu, Hawai'i/College of Southern Nevada/Kapolei HS) went 4-for-5 and drove in three during the twin bill while
Taryn Fujioka (Aiea, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Pearl City) also delivered four knocks.
Chaminde is 1-1 on the season while Saint Martin's is 5-4.
Game 1: CUH 9, SMU 2
After spotting Saint Martin's a 1-0 lead in the first inning, Fujioka got Chaminade's first run in its new park with a two-out RBI in the third inning.
McKean, who was mired in hitting slump during the second half of the team's 2022 season and popped up in her first at-bat of the season to extend her hitless streak to 29 straight at-bats, made up for it in her second plate appearance. With two runners on, the senior lashed a triple to the right-center field gap, plating both runs to put Chaminade up, 3-1.
Jaeda Cabunoc (Kaneohe, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Roosevelt) brought McKean home with an RBI single.
Later in the inning, the 'Swords took advantage of an error when a liner by
Cheyne Obara (Pearl City, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Pearl City) was caught at third. The throw to second to try and pick off Cabunoc sailed into the outfield but the right-fielder misplayed the ball which rolled all the way to the fence, scoring both Cabunoc and
Kailah Gates-Coyaso (Waianae, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Waianae) for a 6-1 lead.
An RBI sacrifice fly by
Keaolani Takemura (Pearl City, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Mid-Pacific Institute) followed by McKean's second run-plating base hit, made it 8-1 in the fifth and
Haley Hayakawa (Torrance, Calif./South) added insurance with her first career triple which increased the 'Swords' lead to 9-2.
That was more than enough for
Taylor Genera (Norwalk, Calif./Whitney), who picked up the win, scattering eight hits in a complete-game effort. The senior struck out two and walked just one.
Fujioka, Hayakawa and McKean each had a pair of hits in the opener with McKean driving in three.
Tia Ridings took the loss for Saint Martin's to fall to 2-2 on the season.
Game 2: SMU 8, CUH 0 (5)
Saint Martin's capitalized on an error and wild pitch to take a 2-0 in the top of the first. The Saints would score in all five innings while Chloe Leverington held Chaminade to six hits in getting the five-inning, complete-game shutout.
Chaminade stranded six runners including four in scoring position. Fujioka and McKean got two hits each for the 'Swords.
Freshman
Bailey Benson (Cheney, Wash./Gonzaga Preparatory) last 4 1/3 innings, allowing seven hits and eight runs, although just two were earned, to take the loss.
Kamryn Lopez (Bakersfield, Calif./Garces Memorial) pitched the final 2/3 innings.
The Silverswords will face Western Washington on Monday with first pitch of the twin bill set for 12 p.m. at Silversword Field.
