HONOLULU – The Chaminade University softball team had the honors of hosting the Pacific West Conference's first conference doubleheader this season, facing Biola University on Friday at Silversword Field at Sand Island Park.
However, the outcomes weren't the desired results, dropping both games of the twin bill, 8-3 and 6-5.
Keaolani Takemura (Pearl City, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Mid-Pacific Institute) drove in four during the day which featured intermittent rain showers which pushed the start time by an hour, as well as stiff winds that blew towards right field.
The matchup featured the top two triples hitting teams in the PacWest and, true to form, the teams combined for seven three-baggers throughout the day.
Chaminade fell to 4-4 and is 0-2 to start off PacWest action. Biola improved to 9-4 and 2-0 in the conference.
Game 1: BU 8, CUH 3
After rain showers delayed the game by an hour to a 1 p.m. first pitch, the Eagles wasted no time, putting up four runs in the first three innings. The Silverswords got two runs back when Takemura delivered a two-out, two-run single in their half of the third to cut the deficit in half.
Biola counted with two runs in the fifth and sixth innings to take an 8-2 lead. The 'Swords managed to get a run back when pinch-hitter
Kieren Lopez (Bakersfield, Calif./Frontier) pulled a ground ball past the Eagles' third baseman for her first career hit which plated
Larchelle Tuifao (Ewa Beach, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Kapolei) for her first career RBI. Chaminade managed to load the bases but couldn't not bring any of the runners in.
The 'Swords were also recipients of bad luck. Biola had three dropped infield pop-ups, two resulting in the ball bouncing straight to nearby teammates who would, in turn, get the force at second base.
Chaminade had nine hits with
Chasity McKean (Kapolei, O'ahu, Hawai'i/College of Southern Nevada/Kapolei HS) being the team's only multi-hitter with two.
Taylor Genera (Norwalk, Calif./Whitney) tossed 5 1/3 innings to suffer her first loss of the season (3-1).
Kamryn Lopez (Bakersfield, Calif./Garces Memorial) had 1 2/3 perfect innings which included a double play to end the sixth, the 'Swords' seventh twin killing of the season.
Raylene Roybal pitched seven innings to pick up the win, although she initially had thrown the first six innings, giving way to Kylee Messmer who failed to record an out in the seventh. Roybal was forced to return to the circle to finish the game. Biola had 11 hits including three triples. Abie Nowalk led BU with three hits and drove in three.
Game 2: BU 6, CUH 5
Like Biola did in the opening game, Chaminade returned the favor, scoring two runs in the first.
Kobe Brown (Mililani, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Mililani) singled with the bases loaded to bring Takemura home. The 'Swords' next batter,
Haley Hayakawa (Torrance, Calif./South), drew a bases-loaded walk for their second run.
The Eagles got a run in the second followed by a three-run third to jump ahead, 4-2. But back-to-back triples from
Taryn Fujioka (Aiea, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Pearl City) and
Jaeda Cabunoc (Kaneohe, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Roosevelt) got CUH to within 4-3, then two batters later, Takemura's sacrifice fly drove Cabunoc in for the tying run.
The Eagles took a 6-4 lead in a two-run sixth but Takemura got her second RBI of the game on a single that landed just fair inside the right-field line.
Again, Roybal was summoned from right field to the pitcher's circle with two outs in the sixth to help extinguish the threat.
The 'Swords provided drama in the seventh, putting the tying run on board after Hayakawa was plunked on the first pitch. Two batters later, what was supposed to be routine grounder for the second out, was nullified when Biola failed to report the re-entry of third baseman Kaitlyn Hawkins, who was pinch-run for an inning earlier. The at-bat was replayed but the Silverswords couldn't take advantage of the gift and bring the tying run to the plate.
Fujioka had three of Chaminade's seven hits while scoring three times and drawing a walk.
Ashley Ogata (Mililani, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Mililani) pitched the first 2 2/3 innings before being relieved by
Bailey Benson (Cheney, Wash./Gonzaga Preparatory) who went the final 4 1/3 frames. Benson was charged with the loss to fall to 0-2.
DJ Symons pitched 1 2/3 frames of middle relief, picking up her first win of the season. Roybal threw the final 1 1/3 for her second save. Roybal and Hawkins each had three hits as BU totaled 11 in the nightcap.
The Silverswords and Eagles wrap up their four-game series Saturday at Silversword Field. First pitch is scheduled for 12 p.m.
