HONOLULU – The Chaminade University softball team concluded their series against Pacific West Conference leader Biola University with a 7-3 defeat on Tuesday at Silversword Field at Sand Island Park.
The Eagles scored the game's first seven runs before the Silverswords mounted a rally in the seventh inning and had the tying run at the plate before running out of outs.
Seniors
Desiree Bravo (Corona, Calif./Mt. San Antonio College/Centennial HS) and
Bailey Jacobsen (Buena Park, Calif./Cypress) recorded two hits as did freshman
Alena Frost (Kaneohe, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Castle) who had her first career multi-hit game.
Chaminade, which dropped all three games of the series, fell to 8-37 overall and 7-23 in the PacWest. Biola improved to 30-15 and 22-5 in the PacWest, increasing the lead in the conference to 2 ½ games over Concordia University Irvine.
Like they did in Game 1 of the series, the Eagles used a big inning to take control of the contest, sending 11 batters to the plate and scoring six times in the fifth to take a 7-0 lead. Biola also had the potential eighth run at second but the 'Swords managed to get out of the jam to avoid the run-rule. They also retired the Eagles in order in the sixth to reach the regulation seventh inning.
Chaminade made things very interesting in the bottom of the seventh. Pinch hitters
Taneia Simanu (Mililani, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Mililani) and
Bailey Benson (Cheney, Wash./Gonzaga Preparatory) led off with a walk and single, respectively. Two batters later, Frost brought in the Silverswords' first run with a single. After a pitching change, Jacobsen ripped an RBI single up the middle followed by a
Larchelle Tuifao (Ewa Beach, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Kapolei) hit that loaded the bases.
Summer Buck (Honolulu/Kaiser) was then plunked to force in another run to keep the bases loaded, bringing the tying run to the plate.
Biola brought in its third pitcher of the inning where Raquel Reyes got two force outs to end the game.
Four of Chaminade's eight hits came in the final inning.
Kamryn Lopez (Bakersfield, Calif./Garces Memorial) took the hard-luck loss, allowing just one run in her 6 2/3 innings of work.
DJ Symons got the win for the Eagles while Reyes collected her first save of the season.
The Silverswords will have their final home series of the season starting Friday with a doubleheader against Vanguard University at Silversword Field. First pitch is set for 12 p.m.
