HONOLULU – The Chaminade University baseball team on Saturday ran into a hot-hitting Point Loma squad Friday, dropping both games of their series opening doubleheader at the University of Hawai'i Manoa's Les Murakami Stadium.
The Sea Lions, who had double-digit hits in three of their previous four games entering the afternoon, scored early and often in the series opener, resulting in a 19-5 win, shortened to seven innings via the 10-run rule. They capped off the day with a 6-0 win in the nightcap.
The Silverswords fell to 17-26 overall and 15-23 in the Pacific West Conference. Point Loma, ranked No. 25 in the National College Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) media poll, improved to 28-12 and 24-10 in the conference.
Game 1: PLNU 19, CUH 5 (7 inn.)
Lightning then heavy rain pushed first pitch of the 3 p.m. opener by an hour. When the weather began to clear, the delay did not seem to affect the Sea Lions, who sent their entire lineup card to the plate in both the first two innings. PLNU plated six in the first then seven in the second.
The 'Swords managed to scratch out a run on an RBI double by
Andrew Karns (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho/Coeur d'Alene) in the fourth.
Chaminade's bats finally came alive in the sixth, scoring twice with a sacrifice foul out by
Alex Greb (Seattle/Wenatchee Valley College/Ballard HS) and a bases-loaded walk by
Skylar Lenihan (Vancouver, B.C./College of Marin/Lord Byng HS), his first career RBI. That prompted Sea Lions starter Ray Celbuski, who had handcuffed 'Swords' batting, to be given the hook after 5 2/3 innings.
CUH made a little more noise in the seventh, loading the bases then getting Karns' second RBI of the game.
Alex Greb (Seattle/Wenatchee Valley College/Ballard HS) then walked with the bases loaded to force in Chaminade's fifth and final run.
Karns accounted for four of the 'Swords hits.
Mac Zawistoski (Coto de Caza, Calif./JSerra Catholic) was charged with the loss.
Celbuski got the win for Point Loma.
Game 2: PLNU 6, CUH 0
The Sea Lions plated two runs in the first but 'Swords' starter
Brennen Panis (Aiea, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Aiea) threw blanks over the next four innings. Point Loma added insurance runs in the sixth and seventh.
Meanwhile, Chaminade was not able to group successful at-bats together in the nightcap. The only Silverswords who got into scoring position were
Cade Fujii (Kapolei, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Porterville College/Kapolei HS) in the second and Karns in the fourth.
Safea Villaruz-Mauai (Hilo, Hawai'i/BYU/Waiakea HS) was 2-for-2 with a walk as Chaminade was able to get just four hits. Panis lasted five innings, giving up two runs, one unearned, and scattered six hits.
Branden Jackel got the complete game victory for Point Loma.
The series concludes Saturday with a nine- and seven-inning doubleheader at Les Murakami Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m., weather pending.
