IRVINE, Calif. – The Chaminade University softball team wrapped up the final day of the Concordia Kickoff Classic on Sunday with a 3-2 loss to Western Oregon University at Orange County Great Park.
Although
Jaeda Kumaewa-Cabunoc (Kaneohe, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Roosevelt) did not get a base hit in the game, she brought home both Chaminade runs on a sacrifice fly and groundout while
Elora Tonaki (Kapolei, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Hawai'i Technology Academy) scored both.
The Silverswords fell to 0-4 in the prestigious tournament, three of them one-run contests, two where they had a lead going into the seventh inning. The Wolves improved to 2-2.
The matchup was basically a sneak preview of a future doubleheader in Honolulu. Chaminade and Western Oregon are scheduled to meet on Friday, Feb. 16 at Silversword Field at Sand Island Park. In fact, the two did not know they were facing each other in Great Park until early Saturday evening thanks to bad weather that wreaked havoc with the tournament matchups and locations all weekend.
The Wolves scored three times in the top of the first inning, all unearned off starter
Kamryn Lopez (Bakersfield, Calif./Garces Memorial).
The 'Swords manufactured their first run in the third when Tonaki drew a lead-off walk, stole second and advanced to third when the overthrow from the catcher was bobbled in centerfield. Kumaewa-Cabunoc then brought her home on a line-drive sacrifice fly to center.
The Tonaki-Kumaewa-Cabunoc duo did it again the fifth after the former got her first career base hit, a single to center. After a double from
Taryn Fujioka (Aiea, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Pearl City) moved her to third, Tonaki scored on Kumaewa-Cabunoc's grounder to second.
But that would be all for the 'Swords, who could not get a baserunner in the final two innings.
Although the Silverswords were held to four hits,
Bailey Benson (Cheney, Wash./Gonzaga Preparatory) pitched five innings of relief, facing traffic in each inning but did not allow a run. The sophomore stranded six Wolves in scoring position including in the fifth when WOU hit a one-out triple but got a strikeout and a weak ground ball to end the inning. Benson also worked out of a bases-loaded, one-out jam in the sixth.
Despite not allowing an earned run, Lopez was tagged with the loss.
Nicki Derrick earn the win for Western Oregon.
The Silverswords are scheduled to return home for an exhibition doubleheader on Monday, Feb. 12 against Josai International of Japan at Silversword Field. The 'Swords will have their home opener on Wednesday, Feb. 14 against the University of Texas Permian Basin.
