HILO, Hawai'i – In the thick of a Pacific West Conference Tournament berth, the Chaminade University softball team experienced all types of emotions in Saturday's doubleheader at the University of Hawai'i Hilo.
The Silverswords got a solid start at UH Hilo Softball Field with an emphatic 8-3 win in the matinee. But they also dealt with bitter disappointment in the nightcap with a 7-6, 10-inning loss in which they were an out away from getting the Saturday sweep.
Kailah Gates-Coyaso (Waianae, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Waianae) totaled four hits on the afternoon including a career-high three in the second game which extended her hitting streak to five, also a career-best.
Larchelle Tuifao (Ewa Beach, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Kapolei) added four total hits while driving in three.
With the split, the 'Swords are 22-22 on the season and 14-15 in the PacWest, remaining a game-and-a-half behind in-city rival Hawai'i Pacific University for the fourth and final spot in the championship tournament which will be held at Biola University's Freedom Field starting May 3.
Game 1: CUH 8, UHH 3
The Silverswords wasted no time in getting on the board. After
Taryn Fujioka (Aiea, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Pearl City) drew a lead-off walk, the junior shortstop scored on Tuifao's double off the right-center fence.
The 'Swords then put together a massive second inning.
Chasity McKean (Kapolei, O'ahu, Hawai'i/College of Southern Nevada/Kapolei HS) drew a bases-loaded walk followed by
Keaolani Takemura's (Pearl City, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Mid-Pacific Institute) conference-leading 40th RBI. After UH Hilo made a pitching change, Tuifao's fly ball in right field foul territory was deep enough to plate Chaminade's fourth run of the inning. Chaminade wasn't done when
Kobe Brown (Mililani, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Mililani) drove in another run while Takemura scored when the right fielder's throw to home went to the backstop. RBI singles from Gates-Coyaso and
Bailey Jacobsen (Buena Park, Calif./Cypress) would complete a seven-run second – the most runs in a single inning this season – sending 13 batters to the plate for an 8-0 lead.
UH Hilo wouldn't go away quietly, getting two runs back in the bottom of the frame. The Vulcan also threatened in the third with a lead-off triple but the 'Swords got the next three outs with no damage.
However, the Vulcans continued to make things uncomfortable for the 'Swords, putting runners on board and plating a sixth-inning score while Chaminade's bats went silent.
However, the Silverswords' defense backed starter
Jaeda Cabunoc (Kaneohe, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Roosevelt), making her first pitching appearance since March 31, and reliever
Ashley Ogata (Mililani, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Mililani) to minimize the damage and stranding runners. In the seventh, Ogata got a game-ending 5-4-3 double play to secure the win.
Takemura finished with a 3-for-4 game while Tuifao added two hits while driving in a pair as the 'Swords compiled 10 knocks. Ogata tossed four innings to earn the win, improving to 6-3 on the year, tying her for the team-lead in wins.
Malia Risdall lasted just 1 1/3 innings to take the loss, falling to 4-8.
Game 2: UHH 7, CUH 6 (10 inn.)
The start to the nightcap was a reversal of the first, with the Vulcans striking three times in the bottom of the inning.
But Chaminade answered in the top of the third. Following Fujioka's lead-off ground-rule double which hopped over the right field fence, five straight singles from Tuifao, Brown, Gates-Coyaso, Cabunoc and
Isabel Rodriguez (Littleton, Colo./Columbine) gave Chaminade a 4-3 lead.
Cheyne Obara (Pearl City, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Pearl City) was denied a sixth straight base knock when UH Hilo shortstop Jayda Favela made a diving stop in the hole to get the force at third base but it still plated another run, making it 5-3. The 'Swords got their sixth run in the next inning when Gates-Coyaso bounced a single into center field to bring Tuifao in.
Although
Kamryn Lopez (Bakersfield, Calif./Garces Memorial), who won her first career start against the Vulcans seven days earlier, faced traffic in each inning, the freshman managed to get several big outs including stranding the bases loaded in the bottom of the third while not allowing a run to cross in the inning.
With the 'Swords holding on to a 6-4 lead in the bottom of the seventh, the Vulcans led off the frame with a solo homer to left from Dyoni Garcia which chased Lopez from the circle. Ogata was summoned from the pen and managed to get two outs but UH Hilo would then force extras innings when Favela lofted an opposite field bleeder just over Fujioka's out-stretched glove in shallow left.
With neither team able to score in the eighth and ninth innings, the game went into the 10th- inning international tiebreaker (runner placed at second base). The 'Swords came within inches of taking the lead but UH Hilo centerfielder Maya Saneishi took away Takemura's potential go-ahead hit with a diving catch in left-center to start a double play.
UH Hilo would take advantage of their opportunity when Lexie Tilton drove the walk-off sacrifice fly to left-center on Chaminade's outfield which was drawn in with just one out on the board.
For the third time in the season series against UH Hilo, Chaminade reached the double-digit mark in hits with 15 but also stranded the same number of runners on base. Gates-Coyaso's three hit were a career-high while Rodriguez also had a trio of base knocks while Brown had a pair. Ogata was charged with the loss to fall to 6-4 on the season in 3 2/3 innings of relief.
Risdall tossed 7 2/3 frames out of the pen to pick up the win to improve to 5-8.
The loss prevented the Silverswords from getting their first-ever four-game season sweep of the Vulcans, although they managed to win the series, 3-to-1, for the second straight season.
Although the heartbreaking defeat did not help their cause, the 'Swords still have a shot to earn the fourth playoff bid but they will need some help. Chaminade must hope UH Hilo gains at least a twin bill split against HPU in their Senior Day on Sunday and then sweep the Sharks on Friday in their home finale at Silversword Field. They will also need Dominican University to drop three of its final six games.
Friday's first pitch at Silversword Field is set for 12 p.m.
Seniors
Taylor Genera (Norwalk, Calif./Whitney),
Kieren Lopez (Bakersfield, Calif./Frontier) and Obara will be honored following the twin bill.
