HONOLULU – The Chaminade University softball team on Saturday -- promoted as"DII Day" across the nation to celebrate NCAA Division II -- opened their three-game series to interstate rival University of Hawai'i Hilo, hoping to change their fortunes in a tough start to the season.
Unfortunately for the Silverswords, their struggles continued with a 12-1, five-inning setback in the opener. A seventh-inning rally to force extra innings in the nightcap was not enough, falling 4-3 in nine.
The losses dropped them to 2-18 and 1-4 in the Pacific West Conference while the Vulcans, playing their first conference games, improved to 8-7 and 2-0.
Game 1: UHH 12, CUH 1 (5 inn.)
A two-out error in the top of the third inning gave UH Hilo the first run of the game. The 'Swords were able to get the run back in the bottom half of the frame with an RBI single from
Mikala Jacobsen (Buena Park, Calif./Cypress College/Cypress HS).
But the top of the fifth was disastrous for Chaminade as the Vulcans sent 16 batters to the plate, scoring 11 times. The 'Swords used four pitchers in the inning before
Anissa Vital (San Pedro, Calif./Mary Star of the Sea) finally stopped the bleeding and get them out of the frame.
The 'Swords managed five hits in the opener with
Ava Walker (Las Vegas/Faith Lutheran) taking the loss.
Madison Rabe got the win for UH Hilo.
Game 2: UHH 4, CUH 3 (9 inn.)
Three-time Olympic gold medal winner and former Team USA softball player Leah Amico, a three-time national champion at Arizona, in town for other softball activities, learned of the twin bill and paid a visit, meeting with both teams between games. The Silverswords seemed to be inspired from the meeting with starter
Bailey Benson (Cheney, Wash./Gonzaga Preparatory) keeping the Vulcans off the board in the first two innings.
UH Hilo would score three times in the third while the 'Swords managed to get base runners but could not bring them in.
That is until the bottom of the seventh. Down to their final out, pinch hitter
Gabriella Schneider (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif./Alta Loma) was plunked followed by a walk by
Bailey Jacobsen (Buena Park, Calif./Cypress).
Taryn Fujioka (Aiea, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Pearl City), mired by a recent slump at the plate, came through in the clutch, roping a double to left center, bringing in two runs to cut the deficit to 3-2.
After a wild pitch moved her to third, another ball in the dirt allowed Fujioka to tie the game as Chaminade's improbable rally sent the game into extra innings.
But in the ninth, the Vulcans got the go-ahead run around then retired the 'Swords in order to complete the sweep and win the series.
Larchelle Tuifao (Ewa Beach, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Kapolei) collected two of Chaminade's four hits in the nightcap. Despite allowing just one run in six innings of relief,
Kamryn Lopez (Bakersfield, Calif./Garces Memorial) took the hard-luck loss as she and Benson managed to strand 13 UH Hilo base runners.
Despite the blown save, Tehani Seto earned the win.
The third and final game of the series is on Sunday with a first pitch scheduled for noon.
