SAN DIEGO – The Chaminade University baseball team wrapped up their first Southern California road trip Thursday with a pair of losses at nationally ranked Point Loma at Carroll B. Land Stadium.
The Silverswords, who were held to just eight combined hits in Wednesday's series-opening doubleheader, finally got to Sea Lions pitching with 23 knocks in the second twin bill.
However, Point Loma still managed a 7-6 win in the day's first game then completed the series sweep with a 14-9 seven-inning victory.
The 'Swords , who have never defeated Point Loma in 12 all-time meetings, fell to 3-10 overall and 1-7 in the Pacific West Conference. The Sea Lions, ranked No. 21 in the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) and No. 12 in the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) Top 25 Polls, improved to 12-3 and 8-0 in the PacWest.
Game 1: PLNU 7, CUH 6
Down 2-0,
Brayden Braga's (San Ramon, Calif./Dougherty Valley) comebacker to the pitcher got the 'Swords on the board in the second inning.
It remained a 2-1 Sea Lions' lead until the fifth when CUH took the lead on an
Alex Hamada's (Aliso Niguel, Calif./Aliso Niguel) tying RBI knock followed by a solo homer from
Bode Poler (Montesano, Wash./Gonzaga University/Montesano HS) to give them a 3-2 lead.
With Point Loma up 7-4 in the ninth, Chaminade mounted a rally with an RBI hit from
Cade Fujii (Kapolei, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Porterville College/Kapolei HS) followed by Hamada's second RBI of the game, cutting the deficit to 7-6 with the bases loaded with no outs. However, a strikeout and double play ended the threat and the game.
Fujii and Hamada each had three hits with Poler,
Alex Greb (Seattle/Wenatchee Valley College/Ballard HS) and
Evon Williams (San Ramon, Calif./Dougherty Valley) each getting two in the Silverswords' 15-hit attack.
Brennen Panis (Aiea, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Aiea) took the loss.
The Sea Lions had seven hits in the matinee with four of their runs coming on sacrifice flies or errors. Glen Huggins earned the win for Point Loma.
Game 2: PLNU 14, CUH 9
Spotting the Sea Lions a 3-0 lead and weather beginning to worsen, the 'Swords roared back with a four-run third, thanks to Hamada's RBI single followed by Greb's second career home run, a go-ahead three-run blast put Chaminade up 4-3.
PLNU retook the lead and was up 6-4 in the fourth when Williams' run-producing fielder's choice got Chaminade within a run. Two batters later,
Caleb Kim (Aiea, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Christian Academy) put the Silverswords up 7-6 with a two-run single, his first RBIs of the season.
However, with rain drops beginning to fall, the Sea Lions plated eight runs in the fifth but the 'Swords didn't go down quietly. In the seventh and final scheduled inning, they loaded the bases then got Fujii drew a bases-loaded walk. With the bases still loaded,
Jaren Banis (Wahiawa, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Kamehameha-Kapalama) was plunked to drive in another run, cutting the deficit to 14-9 but that would be all for Chaminade.
Poler had two of the 'Swords' nine hits with Greb plating three runs.
Chris Mata (Wailuku, Maui, Hawai'i/South Mountain CC/Maui HS) took the loss.
Kyle Scritzky got the win for the Sea Lions and Josiah Rodrigues driving in four runs. Point Loma outfielder Ryan Ruch, who played at Chaminade in the first season of its resurrection in 2023 and was the PacWest Freshman of the Year, played all four games, primarily as a defensive replacement, getting one pinch-hit at-bat in the series with a run scored.
The Silverswords return to O'ahu for their first PacWest home series starting Saturday, Feb. 28 against Azusa Pacific at Hans L'Orange Field. First pitch is at 11 a.m.
