AZUSA, Calif. – The Chaminade University softball team on Monday opened the final four-game series of their Southern California road trip with a doubleheader against Azusa Pacific at Cougars Softball Field.
Unfortunately for the Silverswords, their bats went cold after totaling 36 in their previous four games.
Taryn Fujioka (Aiea, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Pearl City), however, continued to swing a hot bat, getting base hits in both games to extend her hitting streak to seven, the longest active on the team.
Chaminade fell to 11-14 and 7-8 in the Pacific West Conference while Azusa Pacific improved to 18-11 and 9-3 in the PacWest.
Game 1: APU 3, CUH 0
The Silverswords couldn't get anything going against APU ace Katie Korstrom, who retired the first 11 'Swords before
Larchelle Tuifao (Ewa Beach, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Kapolei) ended her perfect game bid with a solid base hit to left.
Meanwhile the Cougars were able to plate two first-inning runs then added a third in the fifth.
Trailing 3-0 in the top of the sixth, the 'Swords got their only real opportunity to get on the board.
Jaeda Kumaewa-Cabunoc (Kaneohe, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Roosevelt) led off with a single then two batters later, Fujioka doubled off the center field wall, putting runners at second and third with one out. However, both were left stranded.
Kamryn Lopez (Bakersfield, Calif./Garces Memorial) was solid in relief, allowing just two hits in 4 1/3 innings of work, allowing just one run.
Ashley Ogata (Mililani, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Mililani) gave up just four hits but took the loss.
Korstrom, who has three career wins over Chaminade, got her fourth, tossing a three-hitter.
Game 2: APU 6, CUH 1
A two-run double in the second inning gave the Cougars all they needed. APU got the remainder of its runs in the third and fifth.
Meanwhile the 'Swords continued to be stifled by Azusa Pacific pitching. The first six batters were retired before getting their first base runner on a third-inning leadoff bunt single from
Isabel Rodriguez (Littleton, Colo./Columbine).
Kailah Gates-Coyaso (Waianae, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Waianae) then lined a two-bagger down the left field line, moving Rodriguez to third but both were stranded.
Chaminade finally got its first run of the series in the sixth after Fujioka led off the frame with a bunt single. Then with two outs,
Kobe Brown (Mililani, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Mililani) laced an RBI double to left, allowing Fujioka to motor around the bases.
The 'Swords also had something cooking in the top of the seventh, loading the bases with two outs but were unable to squeeze out another run.
Chaminade managed five hits off Felicia De La Torre with Fujioka getting a pair.
Bailey Benson (Cheney, Wash./Gonzaga Preparatory) went 4 2/3 innings and went frame-for-frame with De La Torre before being relieved by Lopez, who went 1 1/13 innings, allowing just one hit. Benson was charged with the loss.
De La Torre picked up the win for APU.
The Silverswords wrap up their SoCal road trip Tuesday with the series-ending twin bill against the Cougars with first pitch set for 1 p.m. Hawai'i time.
