ATHERTON, Calif. – The Chaminade University softball team dropped both games of their series-ending Pacific West Conference doubleheader to Menlo College at Wunderlich Field on Saturday.
The Silverswords held early two-run leads in both games before the Oaks charged back to sweep all three contests.
Larchelle Tuifao (Ewa Beach, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Kapolei) had four hits on the afternoon with two extra base hits, a double in the first and home run in the nightcap. The senior catcher was 7-for-11 during the series with a 1.455 slugging percentage.
Chaminade fell to 4-32 and 3-18 in the PacWest. Menlo is 6-20 and 5-10 in the conference.
Game 1: Menlo 8, CUH 2
The 'Swords struck first when
Desiree Bravo (Corona, Calif./Mt. San Antonio College/Centennial HS) drilled a double to center, driving in
Summer Buck (Honolulu/Kaiser) in the second inning. Bravo herself was brought in by
Taneia Simanu (Mililani, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Mililani) who ripped a liner to center, giving Chaminade a 2-0 lead.
The Oaks countered with the tying runs in their half of the second then took the lead with a three-run third.
Meanwhile the 'Swords managed to get base runners after the third inning but could not push them across. In all, CUH stranded eight.
Bravo had three of Chaminade's eight hits in the game while Simanu had her second two-hit game of the season.
Bailey Benson (Cheney, Wash./Gonzaga Preparatory) was charged with the loss.
Shelby White got the win for Menlo.
Game 2: Menlo 4, CUH 3
Not wasting any time in the first,
Taryn Fujioka (Aiea, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Pearl City), who saw her nine-game hitting streak end in the opener, led off with a single to right. Three batters later, Tuifao crushed a Destanee Perez pitch for a two-run homer, her second homer of the series and fourth of the season. It was also Tuifao's 12th career jack, moving her past Jenn Betian for fifth in the all-time list.
But in the second, the Oaks took the lead with one swing. After loading the bases, Grace Christian hit a fly ball, which caromed off the top of the fence and bounced out for the go-ahead grand slam.
The 'Swords were able to get a run back in the third on Tuifao's run-scoring single, her third RBI of the game, cutting the deficit to 4-3. But Chaminade was unable to piece together at-bats to extend the game.
Meanwhile,
Vanessa Pena (Paramount, Calif./Paramount) was brilliant in relief of starter
Ava Walker (Las Vegas/Faith Lutheran). Moving in from her centerfield spot in the home half of the second, Peña walked the first batter she faced. From there, the sophomore retired the final 13 Menlo batters including four via strikeout, tying a career high.
Tuifao and Fujioka were both 3-for-3 in the game while Peña did not allow a hit in her 4 1/3 innings of relief. Walker took the loss.
Rosaline Torralva got the win for the Oaks while the save went to Perez.
The Silverswords will have the final series in their northern California road trip starting Monday with a doubleheader at Academy of Art. First pitch is at 9 a.m. Hawai'i time.
