HONOLULU – The Chaminade University softball team on Wednesday wrapped up their four-game series at Azusa Pacific with their second split.
The Silverswords took the matinee, 7-5, but dropped the nightcap by an 11-7 count. Their second straight win-one-lose-one day was historic in that the 'Swords gained their first-ever road series split against a foe from the Pacific West Conference's Southern California region, arguably where the conference's power lies. In previous years, the most they got in any series in SoCal was one.
Chaminade belted out 23 hits in the doubleheader with
Sunni Kahanu (Mililani, O'ahu, Hawai'i/University of Hawai'i/Mililani HS) combining on a 4-for-7 day at the dish while
Summer Buck (Honolulu/Kaiser) continued to be a doubles machine with two-baggers in both games, running her doubles streak to five straight.
The Silverswords are 6-17 and 5-9 in the PacWest while the Cougars are 15-15 and 8-8 in what is likely the final meeting between the two programs. Azusa Pacific is moving to NCAA Division III this summer.
Game 1: CUH 7, APU 5
RBI hits from Buck and Kahanu gave the 'Swords a 2-0 lead in the first although APU replied with two in the bottom of the frame.
CUH in the next half-inning took the lead with
Taneia Simanu (Mililani, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Mililani) scoring on an error followed by an RBI double from
Gabriella Schneider (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif./Alta Loma).
Schneider's bases-loaded walk in the fourth made it 5-2 before the Cougars got a run in the fourth and fifth to knot it at 5.
In the top of the seventh,
Miranda Diaz (Whittier, Calif./Cerritos College/California HS) drew a walk with the bags juiced to bring in the go-ahead run followed by a big insurance RBI hit from
Mimi Smith (Redondo Beach, Calif./Redondo Union) to give Chaminade a 7-5 cushion headed to the bottom of the frame.
The Cougars managed to get the tying run at the plate but
Bailey Benson (Cheney, Wash./Gonzaga Preparatory) fanned Maddy Debs to end the game and give Chaminade its first-ever second win in a series against a PacWest SoCal opponent.
Benson tossed 3 2/3 innings of relief, allowing just one run to earn the win and improve to 3-5. Kahanu had three hits while
Mikala Jacobsen (Buena Park, Calif./Cypress College/Cypress HS), Buck, Diaz and Schneider, who drove in two runs, added two hits each for Chaminade, which had 13 hits in the game.
Analise Reyes was charged with the loss.
Game 2: APU 11, CUH 7
With Chaminade looking for a series win, Azusa Pacific plated the game's first nine runs through the first three innings, dashing those hopes. At least momentarily.
In a blink, three straight hits to open the top of the fourth put 'Swords on each base. Smith then walked to bring in what at the time may have been a rather innocent first run. Then
Alena Frost (Kaneohe, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Castle) drove in two on a double, making it 9-3 and eliminate the run-rule. They weren't done yet.
Smith came home on an error, putting worry in the APU faithful. That was followed by Buck's two-run double and, suddenly, the Silverswords slashed the deficit to 9-6.
In the bottom of the fifth, the Cougars got a pair of insurance runs to up their lead to 11-6. Schneider drove in Smith on a ground out in the sixth, getting Chaminade to within 11-7 but that would be all for the 'Swords.
The Silverswords had 10 hits, two each from Frost and
Vanessa Pena (Paramount, Calif./Paramount), the latter entering in the fourth when the 'Swords trailed by nine. Frost and Buck both had two RBI while the latter's fourth-inning double was her conference-leading 14th, six more than the next player in the category.
Ava Walker (Las Vegas/Faith Lutheran), who had two different trips to the circle during the outing, took the loss.
Julia Doan had four RBI for APU with Allie Reese got the win in relief.
The Silverswords are next in action on Friday to open a series at Concordia University Irvine, ranked No. 22 in the NFCA Coaches Poll. First pitch is scheduled for noon Hawai'i time.
