LONG BEACH, Calif. – The Chaminade University softball team on Monday was named the Pacific West Conference Team of the Week.
The Silverswords enjoyed their best stretch of the season during the week, winning two straight series against Academy of Art and Hawai'i Pacific University. The 'Swords capped their week by rallying from six runs down, including a 7-2 deficit in the fifth inning on Sunday to stun the Sharks in a 9-7 final, and finish the biggest comeback in program history.
Bailey Benson (Cheney, Wash./Gonzaga Preparatory) was instrumental in the circle, earning two complete-game wins and allowed just one unearned run in her 14 innings of work. Against ART U on Monday, March 24, she fired a one-hitter and faced just one above the minimum for her second career complete-game shutout. In her next start on Saturday, she scattered seven HPU hits and allowed an unearned run in the win.
Vanessa Pena (Paramount, Calif./Paramount) also earned two wins in the circle, winning her start against the Urban Knights on March 24 then one in relief in Chaminade's victory over their in-city rival on Sunday. She also had six hits during the week as the centerfielder.
Mimi Smith (Redondo Beach, Calif./Redondo Union) was the 'Swords' most productive hitter during the week, batting 5-for-8 with six RBI and three runs in her last four games. In their Sunday rally against the Sharks, the freshman second baseman drove in four including the game-tying run and scored the go-ahead run.
Jessup University's Maddy Ybarra was the PacWest Player of the Week while Madison Rabe of the University of Hawai'i Hilo was the Pitcher of the Week after tossing a no-hitter against Menlo College.
The Silverswords will get the week off then resume action at Silversword Field for a Monday, April 7 doubleheader and a single game on Tuesday against PacWest contender Biola University. First pitch on both days are 12 p.m.
