HONOLULU – Back home after a long 11-game mainland road trip spanning 15 days, the Chaminade University baseball team was back in action at home, facing the University of Hawai'i Hilo at Les Murakami Stadium at the University of Hawai'i Manoa campus.
Under a heavy "Manoa Mist" that fell throughout the day along with blustery windy conditions, the Silverswords got a walk-off 6-5 win in the matinee when
Ace Perry (Kaneohe, O'ahu, Hawai'i/University) scored the winner on a wild pitch. The Vulcans won the nightcap, 14-0, behind 15 base hits and a monster third inning.
The Vulcans lead the season series, 4-to-3, with three results ending in walk-offs, two by the Silverswords.
Chaminade is 14-27 overall and 7-19 in the Pacific West Conference while UH Hilo is 15-25 and 8-18. With their wins, both teams earned a point in the PacWest Hawai'i Challenge.
Game 1: CUH 6, UHH 5
The 'Swords spotted the Vulcans two runs in the first inning but
Aydan Lobetos' (Ewa Beach, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Kamehameha-Kapalama) two-run single in the bottom of the first got them within a run.
Chamiande evened the game at 3 when
Ryan Ruch (San Diego/Patrick Henry) scored on a balk.
The Vulcans took a 5-3 edge in the fourth but a RBI single from
Evon Williams (San Ramon, Calif./Dougherty Valley) in the fifth.
Casey Kudell (Irvine, Calif./Irvine Valley College/Irvine HS) tied it at 5 with an RBI groundout in the sixth.
It remained a 5-5 game until the 'Swords put runners at second and third in the home half of the ninth. Williams managed to draw a walk but the pitch got past UH Hilo's catcher and rolled to the wall, allowing Perry to sprint home for the walk-off (or more appropriately, run-off) winner.
Lobetos went 3-for-4 at the dish with Chaminade getting seven hits in all.
The 'Swords got a major lift on the bump from
Zac Brown (Tustin, Calif./Mater Dei) who allowed just one hit in the final two innings of relief. The freshman got the win to improve to 2-1 on the year.
John Navarro took the loss to fall to 0-2.
Game 2: UHH 14, CUH 0
A 21-minute rain delay in the top of the second inning didn't seem to slow the Vulcans down. Leading 2-0 when the tarp came out, UH Hilo scored three more times when play resumed for a 5-0.
Few went right for the 'Swords in the fourth as the Vulcans sent 14 batters to the plate, scoring eight runs.
Chaminade totaled five base hits in the second game with
Caleb Kim (Aiea, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Christian Academy) getting two hits off the bench.
Xavier Stoker (Cedar City, Utah/College of the Canyons//Canyon View HS) took the loss.
Cody Min had three of UH Hilo's 15 hits with Aaron Davies getting the win.
The Silverswords and Vulcans will meet again next weekend to wrap up the season series as the venue switches to Wong Stadium on the Big Island on April 13. First pitch is 11 a.m. followed by the seven-inning nightcap.
