HONOLULU – The Chaminade University softball team on Saturday belted out 29 hits to help them split a Pacific West Conference doubleheader against in-city rival Hawai'i Pacific University at the Sharks' home turf at Sand Island Softball Complex.
The Silverswords dropped the matinee opener, 10-8, despite 14 base knocks but rallied back for a 13-5 five-inning mercy-rule nightcap.
Summer Buck (Honolulu/Kaiser) continued her torrid start to the year, going 5-for-6 with five RBI in the twin bill upping her batting average to a PacWest-leading .514.
Freshman
Carisma Ta'amai (Oroville, Calif./Pleasant Valley) also had five knocks while driving in six runs with sophomore outfielder
Alena Frost (Kaneohe, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Castle) bringing in three RBI and crossing the plate four times.
Chaminade is 3-10 and 2-2 in the PacWest while HPU, playing its first conference games of the season under the direction of new head coach Alex Takemura, a former 'Swords assistant in 2024, is 3-7 and 1-1 in the conference.
Game 1: HPU 10, CUH 8
Chaminade found itself playing catchup in the early innings, down 6-3 after four. Then in the fifth, the Silverswords exploded for five runs on an RBI double from
Gabriella Schneider (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif./Alta Loma), a run-scoring single by
Mimi Smith (Redondo Beach, Calif./Redondo Union) and Bucks' bases-loaded walk which tied it at 6. Ta'amai then laced a two-run single to center, putting CUH up 8-6.
But the Sharks bit back in the bottom of the frame, scoring four times to take a 10-8 lead. Chaminade was unable to get the countering runs in its final two innings.
Five 'Swords, including Buck, Ta'amai,
Sunni Kahanu (Mililani, O'ahu, Hawai'i/University of Hawai'i/Mililani HS), Schneider and Frost each had two hits. Ta'amai brought home three and Buck two more.
Bailey Benson (Cheney, Wash./Gonzaga Preparatory) went four innings, scattering nine hits while
Kamryn Lopez (Bakersfield, Calif./Garces Memorial) tossed the final two to take the loss.
Alexis Oshiro and Danielle Cote each had three RBI with the win going to Naomi Cummings, the Sharks' third pitcher who went the final 2 1/3 frames.
Game 2: CUH 13, HPU 5 (5 inn.)
After HPU plated the nightcap's first run in the first,
Miranda Diaz (Whittier, Calif./Cerritos College/California HS) got Chaminade's tying run in the next half-inning with an RBI single.
Then the floodgates opened in the third. Frost scored the go-ahead run on a wild pitch. Two batters later, Buck ripped a triple into the leftfield corner, bringing home two more. Ta'amai made it 4-1 on an RBI infield single then Schneider dropped an run-producing single to left, giving the 'Swords a 6-1 lead.
HPU plated three in its half of the third, drawing to within two runs but CUH answered with four in the top of the fourth. Buck's second triple in as many innings scored Frost. After Ta'amai drilled a double to the left field fence for another run, Kahanu hit a dribbler to shortstop but the throw was dropped at first with Ta'amai not breaking stride and scoring from second for the team's eighth run.
After Diaz got an RBI comebacker to the pitcher, Frost, making her second plate appearance of the inning, got Chaminade's third infield single of the frame, driving in two more, making it 12-4.
The Sharks got a run in the fourth but Ta'amai's second double of the game plated the 'Swords' 13th score, putting the run-rule in effect.
HPU threatened to extend the game with a one-out double in the bottom of the fifth but
Kayden Lopez (Bakersfield, Calif./Garces Memorial) got a pop-up and comebacker to end the game.
According to available records, Chaminade's 13 runs are the most against HPU in the long-running series that began in 1988. They also got their first mercy-rule win against their rivals since the COVID-shortened 2021 season, a 10-2 victory on March 27.
Buck and Ta'amai each had three hits and drove in three while Frost had her first career three-hit game. She and Diaz each had two RBI. Lopez got her first career win in relief, tossing the final 2 2/3 while
Ava Walker (Las Vegas/Faith Lutheran) went the first 2 1/3.
Angelica Oseguera took the loss for HPU.
The Silverswords return to action on Friday when they open a four-game PacWest series against Jessup University at Silversword Field. First pitch is at noon.
