AZUSA, Calif. – The Chaminade University softball team opened their 15-day, 16-game Southern California road trip Tuesday with a split of Azusa Pacific University at Cougar Softball Field.
The Silverswords were held to just three hits in their 6-0 loss in the matinee opener but rebounded in a big way by pounding out 13 base knocks for a 6-3 victory in the nightcap.
The 'Swords are 5-16 overall and 4-8 in the Pacific West Conference while the Cougars are 14-14 and 7-7 in the conference.
Game 1: APU 6, CUH 0
Chaminade was without a baserunner until two outs in the top of the fourth on a double from
Summer Buck (Honolulu/Kaiser) but was left stranded.
The Silverswords did not get another hit until the sixth from
Miranda Diaz (Whittier, Calif./Cerritos College/California HS) and
Mikala Jacobsen (Buena Park, Calif./Cypress College/Cypress HS). However, both did not cross the plate.
'Swords starter
Ava Walker (Las Vegas/Faith Lutheran) had some bad luck on her side as two errors in the early innings led to four runs, all unearned.
Ava Hernandez got the win for APU which also had 10 base hits.
Game 2: CUH 6, CUH 3
Chaminade wasted no time in getting after Cougars starter Maddy Debs with three straight singles to open the game, capped by Buck's RBI knock to put them up 1-0.
Isabel Rodriguez (Littleton, Colo./Columbine) drew a bases loaded walk in the third, and while the Azusa Pacific infielders were conferring at the middle of the circle,
Carisma Ta'amai (Oroville, Calif./Pleasant Valley) alertly stole home with both runs putting the Silverswords up 3-0.
A three-run fifth was highlighted by a two-run homer from
Taneia Simanu (Mililani, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Mililani), her second career bomb, while earlier in the inning, Diaz had a run-scoring double.
Meanwhile, CUH starter
Kamryn Lopez (Bakersfield, Calif./Garces Memorial) retired the first 11 Cougars before a home run denied her a chance at a perfect game and shutout.
After a double – APU's second hit of the game – and an error which led to two runs which cut the deficit to 6-3 in the fifth,
Bailey Benson (Cheney, Wash./Gonzaga Preparatory) was summoned out of the bullpen with two outs and stuck out Julie Doan to end the inning.
Benson then sat down six of the final seven batters she faced to help the 'Swords snap their five-game losing streak.
Eight of the nine 'Swords in the lineup card had at least one hit with
Gabriella Schneider (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif./Alta Loma) going 3-for-4. Buck, Ta'amai and
Sunni Kahanu (Mililani, O'ahu, Hawai'i/University of Hawai'i/Mililani HS) added two hits each with Buck doubling in her third straight game with her PacWest-leading 12th two-bagger.
Lopez got her first win of the season while Benson went the final 2 1/3 to pick up her second career save, and first since her freshman season in 2023. The duo was efficient, throwing 70 pitches, 51 for strikes, and holding the Cougars to four hits.
Debbs took the loss for Azusa Pacific with Hannah Tipton getting two hits, a home run and double.
The two teams will wrap up their four-game series on Wednesday with first pitch at 1 p.m. Hawai'i time.
