HILO, Hawai'i – The Chaminade University softball team opened Pacific West Conference action Saturday with a doubleheader split against the University of Hawai'i Hilo at Vulcan Softball Field.
With first pitch moved up 90 minutes from the original noon starting time due to the threat of rain later in the afternoon, the Silverswords scored five times in the top of the eighth in their extra inning 7-2 win in the opener. The Vulcans came back to win the nightcap, 2-0.
The split put the 'Swords at 2-9 overall and a 1-1 PacWest mark. The Vulcans are 4-5 and also 1-1 in the conference.
Game 1: CUH 7, UHH 2 (8 inn.)
Chaminade wasted no time in getting on the scoreboard.
Summer Buck (Honolulu/Kaiser) blasted a two-run shot over the left field fence with her first career homer giving them a 2-0 lead.
The 'Swords had a chance to tack on more with runners at second and third with no out in the fourth and the bases loaded in the fifth. But in both instances, all five runners were left stranded.
Leading 2-1 going to the home half of the ninth, CUH couldn't close it out, gifting Hilo the tying run without a hit, due to three errors. The Vulcans had the winning run at third with one out but
Bailey Benson (Cheney, Wash./Gonzaga Preparatory), summoned out of the bullpen, struck out Lexie Tilton for the second out then got Rayna White for the inning-ending groundout to force extra frames.
Buck and
Carisma Ta'amai (Oroville, Calif./Pleasant Valley) both got one-out singles in the eighth. Two batters later,
Sunni Kahanu (Mililani, O'ahu, Hawai'i/University of Hawai'i/Mililani HS) got a clutch two-out single that went just inside the third base line for the go-ahead RBI.
Miranda Diaz (Whittier, Calif./Cerritos College/California HS) then came through with her first base hit of the season, a blooper into centerfield that brought in two more runs. Chaminade wasn't done when
Alena Frost (Kaneohe, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Castle) ripped her first career extra-base hit, a double to the right-center gap for two more runs and a 7-2 'Swords lead.
After a 40-minute rain delay in the bottom of the eighth, Benson retired the final two UH Hilo hitters to secure the win.
Buck had three hits and drove in two runs as did Diaz and Frost. Benson did not allow a hit in her 1 2/3 innings to earn the win to improve to 2-3. Starter
Kamryn Lopez (Bakersfield, Calif./Garces Memorial) went the first 4 2/3 with
Ava Walker (Las Vegas/Faith Lutheran) going to the next 1 2/3, both allowing just one unearned run. All three Chaminade pitchers combined to allow just three hits.
Mia Castillo took the loss for the Vulcans.
Game 2: UHH 2, CUH 0
Unlike the opener, the bats went silent for most of the second game, their only hit being an
Isabel Rodriguez (Littleton, Colo./Columbine) single to lead off the second inning.
Meanwhile, UH Hilo plated single runs in the first and third innings but Benson, who started the nightcap, and
Kayden Lopez (Bakersfield, Calif./Garces Memorial) managed to keep the 'Swords in the game.
Although she took the loss after four innings, only one of the runs Benson allowed was earned while the younger Lopez went the final two, allowing just one hit.
Janessa Santos got the complete-game win for the Vulcans.
The Silverswords return to action next Saturday, Feb. 28, when they meet their in-city rival Hawai'i Pacific University on the Sharks' home field at Sand Island Park. First pitch is at 12 p.m.
