WAIPAHU, O'ahu, Hawai'i – The Chaminade University baseball team on Saturday opened a four-game non-conference series against the University of Hawai'i Hilo at Patsy T. Mink Central O'ahu Regional Park Baseball Complex.
The Silverswords scored three times in the bottom of the sixth inning to claim a 7-6 win in the opener. The Vulcans did the same in the nightcap, scoring four times in the top of the sixth, breaking a 5-5 deadlock for a 9-6 win.
Chaminade is 4-7 on the season while UH Hilo is 6-5.
Game 1: CUH 7, UH Hilo 6
Trailing 6-2, the 'Swords scored twice in the seventh via an error and an RBI single from
Ryan Ruch (San Diego/Patrick Henry).
Cato Kleinman (Westlake Village, Calif./Monterey Peninsula College/Westlake HS) inched them closer in the eighth with a run-scoring single.
With two runners on, Ruch had Chaminade's biggest hit of the game, driving a triple off the glove of the diving leftfielder, scoring both runs and giving them a 7-6 lead.
Jasper McGrath (San Diego/Point Loma HS), who came in the relief in the sixth, retired the UH Hilo side in order in the ninth to get the win.
Christian Wood took the loss for the Vulcans.
Game 2: UHH 9, CUH 6
Like they did in the matinee game, Chaminade roared back from down 5-0 in the third.
JT Navyac (Kailua, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Cal State Fullerton/Saint Louis HS) and Ruch drove in runs off singles in the home half of the third.
In the fourth, the Silverswords inched closer on a
Jake Harper (San Pedro, Calif./El Camino College/San Pedro HS) RBI single, and an
Aydan Lobetos (Ewa Beach, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Kamehameha-Kapalama) sacrifice fly.
Casey Kudell (Irvine, Calif./Irvine Valley College/Irvine HS) tied it when he moved to third on a dropped third strike on Navyac. Kudell made a heads up play, bolting for home when the catcher attempted to complete the strikeout of Navyac on the throw to first.
But UH Hilo replied with four runs in the sixth to help split the twin bill.
James Yamasaki got the win for the Vulcans while the loss went to Ruch in relief.
The 'Swords and Vulcans wrap up their non-conference series on Sunday with the nine-inning 12 p.m., followed by the seven-inning 3 p.m. The late game will be broadcast locally on CBS 1500 radio.
