FRESNO, Calif. – The theme of the series between the Chaminade University and Fresno Pacific University baseball teams was 'Don't be leading going into the late innings.'
The Silverswords on Friday wrapped up the series with a come-from-behind 8-4 win over the Sunbirds at Dan Martin Stadium after trailing 4-0 heading into the eighth. In all four games, the trailing team entering the second-to-last scheduled inning ended up losing the game.
Eight of nine in the 'Swords' starting lineup card had base hits with
Ace Perry (Kaneohe, O'ahu, Hawai'i/University) delivering the go-ahead two-run single and
Casey Kudell (Irvine, Calif./Irvine Valley College/Irvine HS) driving in three runs to help them salvage a series split.
Chaminade improved to 13-16 on the season and 11-13 in the Pacific West Conference while Fresno Pacific fell to 14-17 and 9-15 in the conference.
On Wednesday, FPU trailed 4-3 heading into the bottom of the eighth before rallying for four runs to steal the win. In Thursday's seven-inning doubleheader, CUH was down 6-5 in the seventh before rallying to win in extra innings in the first game while the Sunbirds scored twice in the sixth in the nightcap for a 5-4 victory.
In Friday's final game, Fresno Pacific dodged four bullets in the third when centerfielder Trent Mallonee reached over the wall and robbed
Safea Villaruz-Mauai (Hilo, Hawai'i/BYU/Waiakea HS) of his potential fourth grand slam of the season. The Sunbirds seemed to use the momentum of the defensive gem to build a 4-0 lead after seven innings.
However, as was the case all series, the trailing team mounted a rally. The first eight Chaminade batters in the eighth inning got on base as
Alex Greb (Seattle/Wenatchee Valley College/Ballard HS) had an RBI single for the Silverswords' first run.
Cade Fujii (Kapolei, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Porterville College/Kapolei HS) singled in another, then pinch-hitter
Jackson Dorn (Happy Valley, Ore./Mt. Hood CC/Clackamas HS) ripped a two-run double down the right field run, tying the game at 4.
Two batters later, Perry scorched a one-hop comebacker off the glove of Andrew Barger, the Sunbirds' third reliever of the inning. The ball caromed off Barger's glove and rolled into shallow left field to bring in the go-ahead runs, making it 6-4. Chaminade wasn't done, getting an RBI sacrifice bunt by
Jake Harper (San Pedro, Calif./El Camino College/San Pedro HS) then they put the finishing touches with Perry scoring on a wild pitch.
In all, Chaminade sent 13 batters to the box and scored eight times in the frame, the most ever scored in a single inning in the short history of the program.
Ten different 'Swords got hits with two from Fujii.
Brayden Wells (Pullman, Wash./Lower Columbia CC/Pullman HS) tossed two innings of relief to get his first win in a Chaminade uniform. Starter
Xavier Stoker (Cedar City, Utah/College of the Canyons//Canyon View HS) went five innings, striking out five while allowing three runs on three hits.
Rhyn Chambers (San Clemente, Calif./San Clemente), making his first appearance of the year, threw the final two frames and struck out two.
Austin Watson was charged with the loss.
The Silverswords will play their final series of the NorCal road trip on Monday at PacWest newcomer Jessup University in Lincoln, California. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m. Hawai'i time.
