PEARL CITY, O'ahu, Hawai'i – The Chaminade University softball team opened a four-game series Tuesday against nationally-ranked Concordia University Irvine.
The Silverswords were rocked in the series opener, 23-0 in five innings, on a combined no-hitter. But the 'Swords played admirably in the nightcap in a 4-0 defeat.
The twin bill was played on the artificial surface at Pearl City High School, the alma mater of senior second baseman
Cheyne Obara (Pearl City, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Pearl City) and sophomore shortstop
Taryn Fujioka (Aiea, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Pearl City). The games were moved to Pearl City High after the State of Hawai'i shut down Sand Island Park where Silversword Field is for road repavement after being damaged by the recent heavy rains during the past two weeks.
Game 1: CUI 23, CUH 0 (5 inn.)
Everything seemed going as planned in the first inning when starter
Bailey Benson (Cheney, Wash./Gonzaga Preparatory) sat the No. 17 Golden Eagles down in order. However, that proved to be short-lived as CUI sent 12 batters to the plate, scoring five runs.
The Golden Eagles continued to wear down 'Swords' pitching with six runs in the third, three in the fourth and nine in the fifth.
Meanwhile, CUI's Kaitlyn Entrup, the PacWest Preseason Pitcher of the Year, allowed just one base runner – a walk to Fujioka to open the bottom of the first on four pitches – before settling in with four hitless innings.
Madison Urrutia tossed the final frame but plunked
Keaolani Takemura (Pearl City, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Mid-Pacific Institute) to start the fifth followed by walks to both
Kobe Brown (Mililani, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Mililani) and
Bailey Jacobsen (Buena Park, Calif./Cypress) to load the bases. However, Urrutia managed to close the game and preserve the combined no-no.
Benson took the loss to fall to 1-4. Entrup improved to 7-1.
Game 2: CUI 4, CUH 0
Jaeda Cabunoc (Kaneohe, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Roosevelt) made her first pitching appearance of the season but was tagged for two runs in the first inning.
The junior got settled in and proceeded to retire 12 of the next 15 batters. However, in the sixth, CUI hit a pair of homers on back-to-back pitches to take a 4-0 lead, although Cabunoc returned to her groove and sat down the next three batters.
Chaminade got its only hit of the afternoon when
Haley Hayakawa (Torrance, Calif./South) smashed a deep fly ball to right field where Mia Saucedo got spun around and couldn't hang on the ball as it nicked off her glove for a double.
Chasity McKean (Kapolei, O'ahu, Hawai'i/College of Southern Nevada/Kapolei HS) nearly put the 'Swords on the board in the first, crushing a pitch from Daniela Alvarez to dead center field but Kaia Nisby reached over and crashed over the five-foot collapsible fence to rob her of a home run.
However, McKean got even in the top of the seventh when she did the same to Mary Baccay, taking a home run away by barreling over the fence.
Although Cabunoc took the loss, she scattered seven hits and did not issue a walk.
Alvarez improved to 3-1 with the complete-game win.
The Silverswords return to their home base at Silversword Field when they and Golden Eagles wrap up their four-game series Wednesday. First pitch is set for 12 p.m.
