HONOLULU – The Chaminade University softball team opened their final stretch of home games on Monday, dropping a pair to Biola University at Silversword Field at Sand Island Park.
The Silverswords lost the first game, 11-1 in five innings, then the backend of the doubleheader, 6-0.
The Eagles, who entered the twin bill as the Pacific West Conference leaders, stretched their lead over Concordia by two games to 21-5 while also improving to 29-15 overall.
Chaminade fell to 8-36 overall and 7-22 in the PacWest.
Game 1: BU 11, CUH 1 (5 inn.)
The 'Swords committed six errors in the opener; three in the second inning, resulting in a run then three more in the third, which led to six more in the Eagles' seven-run frame.
Chaminade's defense managed to settle down in the final two innings with no errors and no runs.
The Silverswords led off the bottom of the third with back-to-back doubles from
Taryn Fujioka (Aiea, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Pearl City) and
Vanessa Pena (Paramount, Calif./Paramount) with the latter driving in the former for their only run of the game.
Fujioka collected two of the 'Swords' six hits. Peña was tagged with the loss while
Kamryn Lopez (Bakersfield, Calif./Garces Memorial) tossed the final 2 2/3 innings, allowing two runs, both unearned.
DJ Symons picked up the win for Biola.
Game 2: BU 6, CUH 0
The Eagles didn't put together a big inning like they did in the opener but methodically pieced all their runs together in four separate frames.
After being retired in order in the bottom of the first, Chaminade managed to get base runners in the next five innings. Their biggest scoring chance came in the fifth.
Mimi Smith (Redondo Beach, Calif./Redondo Union) and Fujioka had one-out walks then
Mikala Jacobsen (Buena Park, Calif./Cypress College/Cypress HS) singled to load the bases. However, Smith was thrown out at home for the second out then a ground ball ended the inning.
After an error-plagued opener, the Silverswords did not commit any in the nightcap. They also turned an inning-ending 3-2-4 double play in the seventh, their 21st twin killing of the season, moving them into a tie for fifth in Division II with San Francisco State and Hawai'i Hilo.
Summer Buck (Honolulu/Kaiser) had two hits and reached a third time when she was plunked on the batting helmet in the fourth inning.
Bailey Benson (Cheney, Wash./Gonzaga Preparatory) went the distance in taking the loss.
Raquel Reyes went 4 1/3 innings to earn the win while Alexa Medley had three hits for the Eagles.
The finale of the three-game series is Tuesday with a noon first-pitch start.
