HONOLULU – After posting a combined 22 runs and 26 base hits in their first two games against Vanguard University, the Chaminade University baseball team's bats were mostly silent in Sunday's doubleheader series finale.
The Silverswords dropped both games to the Lions, 3-1 and 10-0, at the University of Hawai'i Manoa's Les Murakami Stadium to settle for a four-game series split.
Chaminade mustered just six hits on the afternoon.
The Silverswords fell to 17-24 overall and 15-21 in the Pacific West Conference. The Lions, first year PacWest members, improved to 25-17 and 21-15 in the conference.
Game 1: VU 3, CUH 1
Jaxson Davis led off the game with a home run, which in many respects set the tone of the afternoon.
Chaminade knotted the game in the third thanks to an RBI single from catcher
Jaren Banis (Wahiawa, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Kamehameha-Kapalama). He also came up with a spectacular diving catch in foul territory on a popped up bunt attempt in the top of the fourth. However, Vanguard took the lead later in the inning on a sacrifice fly. The Lions tacked on another run in the fifth on a force out.
The 'Swords managed to get runners in scoring position in the fifth and sixth innings but could not bring them across.
Starter
Brennen Panis (Aiea, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Aiea) went 4 1/3 frames, scattering five hits in taking the loss. Banis has two hits and a pair of steals.
Chris Paruleski got the complete game win for Vanguard.
Game 2: VU 10, CUH 0
In a near-mirror image of the earlier game, the Lions homered in the first inning. But that was just the first of four that left the stadium for VU in the nightcap.
Meanwhile, Chaminade was held to just two hits; a second-inning double from
Casey Kudell (Irvine, Calif./Irvine Valley College/Irvine HS) and a leadoff single from
Alex Greb (Seattle/Wenatchee Valley College/Ballard HS) in the third.
They managed to coax three walks off Vanguard pitching, a hit batter by
Safea Villaruz-Mauai (Hilo, Hawai'i/BYU/Waiakea HS) and Banis getting on board in the fifth, reaching on a strikeout-wild pitch.
Anthony O'Canas (Woodland, Calif./American River College/Woodland HS) suffered the loss on the mound.
Maxwell Montplaisir, Vanguard's second pitcher of the game, got the win in relief.
The Silverswords will play their final Les Murakami series this weekend, starting Friday with a nine- and seven-inning doubleheader against nationally ranked Point Loma. The Sea Lions are 13th in the Division II ABCA Coaches Poll and 19th in the NCBWA Media Poll.
