LA MIRADA, Calif. – The Chaminade University baseball team opened their only mainland trip of the season Friday by splitting their opening doubleheader to Biola University at Eagles Diamond.
The Silverswords dropped the first game of the four-game series, 12-3, but rebounded in the nightcap with a stellar pitching performance from
Max Patterson (Honolulu/Olympic College/Kalani HS) in their 6-4 win, which also snapped their seven-game losing streak.
Casey Kudell (Irvine, Calif./Irvine Valley College/Irvine HS) had four hits on the day with he and
Aydan Lobetos (Ewa Beach, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Kamehameha-Kapalama) both driving in three on the afternoon.
Friday's twin bill was a historic first for the program, marking the first time in program history playing regular season action outside of O'ahu. In its only year of intercollegiate competition, the 1980 team played all of their regular season games on the island.
The Silverswords are 12-18 overall and 5-10 in the Pacific West Conference. Biola is 14-14-1 and 6-8 in the PacWest.
Game 1: BU 12, CUH 3
The Eagles jumped all over the 'Swords with seven times in the first three innings. Lobetos got Chaminade's first run in the fifth on an RBI double followed by a run-scoring triple from Kudell.
Jake Harper (San Pedro, Calif./El Camino College/San Pedro HS) delivered the Silverswords' third run of the opener with a sixth inning RBI infield single.
Jasper McGrath (San Diego/Point Loma HS) tossed four innings of relief, allowing three runs, one earned.
Mac Elske (Lake Oswego, Ore./Lower Columbia CC/Lakeridge HS) took the loss.
Chaminade had plenty of baserunners with 11 hits and six walks but stranded 14 on base including eight in scoring position. Lobetos, Kudell and
Joe DuCoeur (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho/Lake City) each had a pair of hits for the 'Swords.
Biola's Bobby Brown went 5 1/3 innings to earn the win.
Game 2: CUH 6, BU 4
The 'Swords wasted no time in the top of the first, getting Harper and Lobetos to lead off the inning with a hit and walk. Two batters later,
JT Navyac (Kailua, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Cal State Fullerton/Saint Louis HS) plated their first run with an RBI groundout.
After back-to-back walks to lead off the third, Kudell ripped a double to left to plate Chaminade's second run of the game. Lobetos made it 4-0 in the fourth, thanks to a two-run single.
But Biola got back into the game thanks to a three-run homer by James Whitman in the home half of the fourth to close to within 4-3.
However, the Silverswords responded in the top of the sixth, loading the bases. Kudell then came through with a clutch two-out, two-run single to right, pushing their lead to 6-3.
The Eagles plated a run in the bottom of the seventh and had the tying run at second when
Rhyn Chambers (San Clemente, Calif./San Clemente) was summoned from the bullpen and struck out Wyatt Duncan to end the game.
Patterson went five frames, allowing three runs on five hits with five strikeouts, getting the win to improve to 4-2. He did not allow a runner to get to third until the Whitman homer. Chambers picked up his third save of the season.
Chaminade had 10 hits with Kudell and
Haruki Kitazaki (Fukuoka, Japan/Northwestern Oklahoma State/Jiyugaoka HS) each getting two with the former plating three RBI while the latter got his first two base knocks of the year. Lobetos also drove in a pair.
Blake Wentz took the loss for Biola.
The Silverswords will conclude their four-game series against Biola on Saturday at 9 a.m. Hawai'i time in the opener followed by the seven-inning finale.
