HONOLULU – The Chaminade University softball team wrapped up non-conference action on Friday by dropping both games of their doubleheader to nationally ranked Western Washington, 5-1 and 4-0, at Silversword Field at Sand Island Park.
The Chaminade bats went quiet for all but one inning during the twin bill, getting six total hits on the afternoon against the Vikings, ranked 10th in the NFCA Coaches Poll.
Miranda Diaz (Whittier, Calif./Cerritos College/California HS) was the only Silverswords with hits in both games.
Western Washington, last year's West Region champions who came within a game of capturing the NCAA Division II national championship last year, is 3-4.
Although Chaminade fell to 1-14 on the season, they completed one of the most arduous non-league schedules in program history. The 11 opponents they faced in the non-conference are a combined 59-29 after the completion of Friday's competition, with a winning percentage of .670. Eleven of the 'Swords' losses have been by four runs or less.
Game 1: WWU 5, CUH 1
Western Washington got all the runs it needed in the first inning, putting up a three-spot. Chaminade could muster a first-inning walk from
Larchelle Tuifao (Ewa Beach, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Kapolei) before seeing the next 14 batters retired.
CUH was five outs away from being no-hit before No. 9 batter
Mimi Smith (Redondo Beach, Calif./Redondo Union) broke up the no-no with a bouncer through the left side.
Taryn Fujioka (Aiea, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Pearl City) followed with an infield hit, which extended her hitting streak to seven games. Three batters later and the bases loaded, Diaz got the 'Swords on the board with a sharp liner to right, Chaminade's third base hit of the frame, and put the tying run in scoring position. However, they were not able to get another runner across the plate.
WWU scored twice in the top of the seventh for the game's final margin.
Bailey Benson (Cheney, Wash./Gonzaga Preparatory) was charged with the loss while
Kamryn Lopez (Bakersfield, Calif./Garces Memorial) went the final 4 2/3 innings.
Chaminade did turn a defensive gem in the second with a runner at first and one out. First baseman
Taneia Simanu (Mililani, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Mililani) caught a foul ball down the line and crashed into the fence then made a blind, over-the-shoulder toss. Maleah Andrews tagged to second then scampered to third while Smith grabbed the ball and fired a dart to Diaz at third to complete the unconventional 3-4-5 double play.
Mililani native Joie Baker went six innings for the Vikings to pick up the win with Ewa Beach's Kaiana Kong tossing the final inning.
Game 2: WWU 4, CUH 0
The nightcap was almost a carbon copy of the opener with the Vikings striking early, putting up four runs in the first two innings while the Silverswords had just one baserunner – a third-inning walk by Simanu – through four innings.
The 'Swords finally got a knock when pinch hitter
Gabriella Schneider (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif./Alta Loma) got a solid one-out single to left.
Desiree Bravo (Corona, Calif./Mt. San Antonio College/Centennial HS) then reached on an error but CUH couldn't get a run in.
Diaz led off the seventh with Chaminade's second base hit but a double play ended the game.
Meanwhile, Western Washington robbed the 'Swords of several base hits including a diving catch by shortstop Hailey Rath down the third base line to rob Diaz of a hit in the second. Right fielder McKenna Crum took several hits away including a leaping grab of Fujioka's moonshot that was destined for extra bases towards the corner in the fourth.
Ava Walker (Las Vegas/Faith Lutheran) took the loss for the 'Swords while Alli Kimball got the win.
The Silverswords open Pacific West Conference action Wednesday in a three-game series at Hawai'i Pacific University. The 'Swords don't have to travel very far from Silversword Field as the Sharks' new home is in the same Sand Island softball complex, just 50 feet away. First pitch of Wednesday's twin bill is at 1 p.m. The series concludes with the single game finale on Thursday.
