SANTA CLARA, Calif. – The Chaminade University baseball team split their final doubleheader against Menlo College on Sunday, losing 6-1 in the first but getting a 1-0 win in the finale.
The Silverswords, who took three of the four meetings, won their first four-game series since the program was resurrected last season.
Jake Harper (San Pedro, Calif./El Camino College/San Pedro HS) had hits in both games to extend his hitting streak to 10 while
Cade Fujii (Kapolei, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Porterville College/Kapolei HS) homered in the first game then got another hit in the nightcap to extend his hit streak to eight straight.
Max Patterson (Honolulu/Olympic College/Kalani HS),
Sebastian Castro (San Diego/Palomar College/Great Oak) and
Joseph Perez (Goodyear, Ariz./Glendale CC/Verrado HS) combined to keep the Oaks off the scoreboard in the finale, marking the second shutout since the program's restart.
The twin bill was a makeup from Friday's rainouts and relocated to Mission College Field.
Chaminade is 11-14 and 9-11 in the Pacific West Conference while Menlo, in its first year as a PacWest member, is 5-17 and 3-13 in the conference.
Game 1: Menlo 6, CUH 1
After four scoreless frames, Fujii yanked a 2-2 pitch down the left field line and over the fence to lead off the fifth, his fourth homer of the season but his first away from Patsy T. Mink Central O'ahu Regional Park (CORP).
In the home half of the fifth, the 'Swords got two quick outs before Jayshaun Wise homered to tie the game. That's when everything unraveled. The Oaks put the next three on then unloaded them on a double from Braydon Allie to give them a 4-1 lead.
The sudden change of momentum carried into the subsequent innings for Menlo, retiring the final 12 CUH batters to win its first game of the series.
Fujii had half of Chaminade's four hits.
Xavier Stoker (Cedar City, Utah/College of the Canyons//Canyon View HS), who was cruising through four innings but struggled in the fifth, took the loss. Only one run was earned while he struck out five. Stoker,
Reyn Kapua (Honolulu/Mid-Pacific Institute) and
Tyler Geivet (Aliso Viejo, Calif./Aliso Niguel) combined for 10 strikeouts.
Richard Kiel got the win for Menlo.
Game 2: CUH 1, Menlo 0
The 'Swords' bats were silent early with the first eight batters retired.
Evon Williams (San Ramon, Calif./Dougherty Valley) ended the drought with an infield single then reached second on a Harper base knock which stretched his hitting streak.
Ace Perry (Kaneohe, O'ahu, Hawai'i/University) followed with Chaminade's second infield hit, this time to the pitcher, allowing Williams to get to third. However, the throw to first was mishandled, allowing Williams to motor home for what proved to be the game's lone run.
Meanwhile Patterson, making his first appearance since the season opener against Drury on Feb. 2, tossed the first three innings without allowing a run. Castro followed with two more blank frames and Perez closed it out with the final two scoreless frames. The trio also combined for 10 Ks, the most in a seven-inning game in program history with Perez K'ing five of the six out he recorded.
Patterson picked up his first win of the season and Perez earned his fifth save of the season, tied for the second most in the PacWest.
Fujii's infield single in the top of the seventh extended his hitting streak.
The loss went to Landon Rowland.
The Silverswords' next series will begin Wednesday with a single game at Fresno Pacific followed by a doubleheader on Thursday and the series finale on Friday. Wednesday's first pitch is set for 2 p.m. Hawai'i time.
