IRVINE, Calif. – Tuesday's matchup between the top two teams in the Pacific West Conference softball standings featured the Chaminade University's hitting against Concordia University Irvine's pitching. In the end, the arms prevailed.
In the highly anticipated matchup between Chaminade's PacWest-leading .287 team batting average against CUI's conference-low 1.52 team ERA, the Eagles struck the first blows with a doubleheader sweep in the Silverswords' 12-game Southern California road opener at Golden Eagles Field.
PacWest leading CUI, ranked No. 17 in the NFCA Division II Top 25 Poll, held the second-place 'Swords to three hits in its 4-0 win to open the four-game series. The Golden Eagles ended the day with an 8-0 victory, which was halted in the fifth inning via the run rule.
Chaminade was held to four total hits on the day, falling to 9-9 overall and 5-3 in the PacWest. CUI maintained a firm grip in the conference lead by improving to 28-6 and 16-0 in the PacWest.
Game 1: CUI 4, CUH 0
Ashley Ogata (Mililani, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Mililani) took the ball in the series opener for the 'Swords and helped keep the Concordia bats in check for most of the game. CUI got single runs in the second and fifth with its biggest inning being two runs on four hits in the fourth.
Meanwhile, Chaminade's bats were unable to get the big hit off CUI ace Katlin Entrup. The Silverswords' biggest threat was in the sixth when
Kailah Gates-Coyaso (Waianae, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Waianae) led off the inning with a bloop double that landed inside the right field line.
Taryn Fujioka (Aiea, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Pearl City) followed with a walk then
Larchelle Tuifao (Ewa Beach, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Kapolei) singled to left to load the bases with one out.
However, the 'Swords could not tack on a run against Entrup, who retired the next two batters with a pop up and strikeout.
Tuifao, the PacWest's leader in batting average (.479 entering the afternoon), managed to get two of the three hits off the conference's No. 3 ERA leader (.099). Ogata went the distance, scattering nine hits to take the loss while Entrup picked up her 11th win.
Game 2: CUI 8, CUH 0 (5 inn.)
Keaolani Takemura-Brehme (Pearl City, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Mid-Pacific Institute) had Chaminade's lone base knock, an infield hit which deflected off CUI starter Courtney Koelmans' glove in the top of the first inning.
Koelman proceeded to retire the next 14 Chaminade batters.
The Golden Eagles plated two runs in the second and another in the third. They put up a crooked number in the fifth, scoring five times to end the game and hand the 'Swords their first run-rule defeat of the season.
Kamryn Lopez (Bakersfield, Calif./Garces Memorial) took the loss, tossing four innings before an injury forced her to the dugout.
Koelmans picked up the win for CUI, her PacWest-leading 14th of the year, and Concordia's 19th consecutive home conference victory dating back to last season.
The Silverswords and Golden Eagles wrap up their four-game series on Wednesday with the second and final doubleheader scheduled for a 12 p.m. Hawai'i time start.
