IRVINE, Calif. – The Chaminade University baseball team on Monday opened their final series of their Southern California trip by splitting their opening doubleheader at Concordia University Irvine.
The Silverswords lost the matinee opener, 10-4, at Golden Eagles Field, but won the nightcap, 4-3, thanks to timely hitting and brilliant pitching.
Chaminade is 13-24 overall and 6-16 in the Pacific West Conference while CUI is 13-15 and 8-10 in the conference.
Game 1: CUI 10, CUH 4
The Silverswords scored their first two runs without a benefit of a base hit. Their first was in the second inning when
JT Navyac (Kailua, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Cal State Fullerton/Saint Louis HS),
Evon Williams (San Ramon, Calif./Dougherty Valley) and
Joe DuCoeur (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho/Lake City) all walked. A wild pitch then brought Navyac in to tie it a run each.
The walk party continued in the third with
Aydan Lobetos (Ewa Beach, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Kamehameha-Kapalama) and
Casey Kudell (Irvine, Calif./Irvine Valley College/Irvine HS) both reached via bases on balls.
Ryan Ruch (San Diego/Patrick Henry) was plunked, loading the bases, then Navyac reached on an error but drove in Lobetos to give the 'Swords a 2-1 lead.
Chaminade got its first base knock when
Caleb Kim (Aiea, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Christian Academy) led off the fourth with a bouncer that went through the left side.
The 'Swords held their one-run lead until the sixth when CUI plated the tying run. The Golden Eagles then put up five in the seventh, taking a 7-2 lead.
Chaminade, still with just one hit entering the eighth, got singles from
Cato Kleinman (Westlake Village, Calif./Monterey Peninsula College/Westlake HS) and Williams to lead off the eighth. Williams later scored on a wild pitch followed by
Brayden Braga's (San Ramon, Calif./Dougherty Valley) RBI groundout, bringing them to within 7-4.
The Golden Eagles, however, tacked on three more insurance runs in the bottom of the frame for the game's final margin.
Max Patterson (Honolulu/Olympic College/Kalani HS) went six solid innings, scattering eight hits but took the loss.
Jason Rhodenbaugh tossed three innings out of the bullpen to pick up the win.
Game 2: CUH 4, CUI 3
CUH plated the game's first run when
Derek Augenstein's (Vista, Calif./Palomar College/Rancho Buena Vista HS) second-inning blooper down the right field line was dropped, allowing Navyac to cross the plate.
After the Golden Eagles took a 2-1 lead, the 'Swords got it back in the fourth, thanks to consecutive RBI singles from
Haruki Kitazaki (Fukuoka, Japan/Northwestern Oklahoma State/Jiyugaoka HS) and
Ace Perry (Kaneohe, O'ahu, Hawai'i/University).
Chaminade tacked on a sixth inning score on Navyac's sacrifice fly.
The Golden Eagles then got a run in the top of the inning and that the tying and go-ahead runs in scoring position but
Xavier Stoker (Cedar City, Utah/College of the Canyons//Canyon View HS) struck out pinch hitter Niko Santamaria to quell the threat.
Rhyn Chambers (San Clemente, Calif./San Clemente) was then summoned to close out the seventh, doing just that, retiring the side in order including two punch outs.
Stoker went six masterful innings, allowing just four hits and two walks while striking out four to pick up his third win. Chambers got his team-best fourth save.
Moved to the top of the order in the lineup card, Ruch responded a pair of his as did
Jaren Banis (Wahiawa, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Kamehameha-Kapalama), who hit second in the lineup.
The 'Swords got five hits and scored three times off starter Matthew Kaiser, who took the loss after 3 1/3 innings.
The Silverswords conclude their road trip Tuesday with their final doubleheader against the Golden Eagles. First pitch is at 10 a.m. Hawai'i time.
