HONOLULU – After dropping the first game of Wednesday's Pacific West Conference doubleheader to perennial conference power Concordia University Irvine, the Chaminade University softball team roared back in the nightcap to earn a split of the first two games of the three-game series.
Reigning PacWest Player of the Year
Taryn Fujioka (Aiea, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Pearl City) drove in the go-ahead run in the fourth inning of Chaminade's 5-4 upset win to close out the day after losing the series opener, 5-1.
The victory was the third by the Silverswords over the Golden Eagles since CUI joined the PacWest in 2016. All three wins have been in the past three seasons.
Desiree Bravo (Corona, Calif./Mt. San Antonio College/Centennial HS) continued to swing a hot bat with hits in both games including two in the second to extend her hitting streak to six.
Chaminade is 4-22 overall and 3-8 in the PacWest while CUI, the three-time defending conference champion, was handed its first conference loss at 7-1 and 16-3 overall.
Game 1: CUI 5, CUH 1
After a CUI got a second-inning sacrifice fly for the game's first run,
Larchelle Tuifao (Ewa Beach, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Kapolei) tied it with an RBI single to center. But the Golden Eagles, who were playing at the cavernous Silversword Field for the first time (the 2023 series was moved to Pearl City High School because of rain), scored three times in the fourth with one swing on a homer from Kayla Simpson then tacked on another run in the fifth.
Chaminade managed five hits but stranded nine runners including six in scoring position. Starter
Bailey Benson (Cheney, Wash./Gonzaga Preparatory) went four innings and scattered five hits in taking the loss.
Jayden Nishi picked up the win to improve to 7-0.
Game 2: CUH 5, CUI 4
The 'Swords didn't waste any time getting on the scoresheet thanks to a two-run, first-inning double by
Summer Buck (Honolulu/Kaiser) but the Golden Eagles eventually tied it at 2.
Isabel Rodriguez (Littleton, Colo./Columbine) led off the fourth with a walk and, two batters later, was brought home when Fujioka dropped a two-out hit that landed down the right field line. However, the ball got past the right fielder and rolled into the corner, allowing Fujioka to scamper to third on the two-base error.
Vanessa Pena (Paramount, Calif./Paramount) followed with a rope to right center to plate Fujioka but another outfield error allowed Peña to motor to third but was stranded there.
The Silverswords got a big insurance run in the fifth with Buck's leadoff triple to right, which was followed two batters later by Rodriguez who ripped a liner into the left field corner for another three-bagger, allowing Buck to score, making it 5-2.
The Golden Eagles, however, weren't going down without a fight as the preseason pick to win the PacWest for the fourth straight year, scored twice in the seventh and had the tying and go-ahead runs on base. Peña, summoned from the bullpen in the sixth, struck out Gabby Villa on a check swing to lock down the win.
Chaminade managed to out-hit CUI, 8-to-7, with Bravo getting her fourth two-hit game in the past five contests. During her six-game hit streak, the senior is hitting .526 (10-of-19). Buck also had a pair of knocks.
Ava Walker (Las Vegas/Faith Lutheran) went 5 2/3 frames, scattering five hits and a pair of Ks to notch her second win of the season. Peña went the final 1 1/3 to pick up her first career save.
CUI's Bella Cavlo allowed six hits in 3 2/3 innings in taking her first loss of the year.
The Silverswords and Golden Eagles will play the rubber game of their three-game series Thursday at noon at Silversword Field, which will close out Chaminade's 20-game home stand.
