IRVINE, Calif. – The Chaminade University softball team opened their 2026 season on Friday, facing a pair of nationally ranked opponents from the jump at the Concordia Kickoff Classic at Great Park.
The Silverswords opened against Cal State San Marcos, ranked 14th in the NFCA Division II Poll but was on the short end of an 11-2 decision.
The nightcap saw the 'Swords hold an early lead against No. 3 Western Washington before succumbing in the later innings by an 8-4 count.
Mikala Jacobsen (Buena Park, Calif./Cypress College/Cypress HS) had three hits on the day with
Summer Buck (Honolulu/Kaiser) and
Vanessa Pena (Paramount, Calif./Paramount) collecting two each.
Game 1: No. 14 CSUSM 11, CUH 2
A five-run third inning was the big blow in the Cougars' 7-0 lead after four frames. The 'Swords got two runs back in the bottom of the fifth on a Jacobsen RBI single and a run-producing infield hit from
Sunni Kahanu (Mililani, O'ahu, Hawai'i/University of Hawai'i/Mililani HS), the successor to four-year starter and all-time hits leader
Taryn Fujioka at shortstop.
Buck accounted for Chaminade's only other hit – a second-inning leadoff double.
Bailey Benson (Cheney, Wash./Gonzaga Preparatory) took the loss for the 'Swords.
Hailey Shiflett got the win for the Cougars.
Game 2: No. 3 WWU 8, CUH 4
The Silverswords' second game was in stark contrast to their earlier day contest when they jumped all over Western Washington pitching from the jump.
Jacobsen, Peña and Buck all singled to lead off the game with Buck's knock producing the game's first run. Peña came into score on a wild pitch then three batters later,
Isabel Rodriguez (Littleton, Colo./Columbine) produced the 'Swords' third run of the game on an RBI ground out.
The Vikings countered with a run in the bottom of the inning but Chaminade got the run back in the next half-inning, making in 4-1 when Peña drove in
Gabriella Schneider (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif./Alta Loma), who drew a leadoff walk to open the frame.
But WWU responded with four runs in the third to take a 5-4 lead, the big blow being a Hailey Rath game-tying two-run homer. The Vikings added two more in the fourth and another in the sixth for the game's final margin.
Jacobsen and Peña both had two of Chaminade's seven hits on the evening.
Ava Walker (Las Vegas/Faith Lutheran) took the loss.
Olivia Matlock got the win in relief after the 'Swords chased starter Mac Ferguson after just 1 2/3 innings.
Chaminade continues the tournament on Saturday with a 6 a.m. Hawai'i time first pitch against Chico State followed by a 4 p.m. tilt against Colorado Christian College.
