HONOLULU – After more than 30 days without a home game, the Chaminade University softball team was looking to finally getting back to the cozy confines of Silversword Field at Sand Island Park on Friday against Menlo College.
Instead, the team had to wait one more day with the state government officials closing down Sand Island Recreational Park where the field is located because of heavy rain and a flash flood warning.
On Saturday, the Silverswords finally got to step on home grass for the first time in 34 days where the reunion was successful, taking the first game of the four-game series, 5-2.
Menlo returned the favor in the second game with a 6-4 win.
The Silverswords ended the day with an 8-29 overall mark and 7-21 in the Pacific West Conference. The Oaks are 10-29 and 7-16 in the PacWest.
Game 1: CUH 5, MC 2
The Silverswords allowed a pair of Menlo runs in the first inning but rallied to take the lead in the third.
Sunni Kahanu (Mililani, O'ahu, Hawai'i/University of Hawai'i/Mililani HS) drove in
Alena Frost (Kaneohe, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Castle) for the 'Swords' first run followed by an RBI from
Gabriella Schneider (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif./Alta Loma).
Carisma Ta'amai (Oroville, Calif./Pleasant Valley) delivered Chaminade's fifth base hit of the inning, driving in the go-ahead run, making it 3-2.
Ta'amai drove another run, the 'Swords' fourth, with a double in the fifth with
Vanessa Pena (Paramount, Calif./Paramount) adding a pinch-hit RBI single in the sixth.
Ava Walker (Las Vegas/Faith Lutheran) came out of the bullpen with one out in the fourth and did not allow a run in the final 3 2/3 frames, scattering four hits with four strikeouts to pick up the win in relief. Ta'amai went 3-for-3 while six other Silverswords in the starting lineup got one hit. It was Chaminade's first-ever documented win over the Oaks after suffering a four-game sweep in Atherton, California, last season.
Lela Yslava took the loss for Menlo.
Game 2: MC 6, CUH 4
Trailing by a run, the 'Swords plated four runs in the third with sacrifice flies from
Mikala Jacobsen (Buena Park, Calif./Cypress College/Cypress HS) and
Summer Buck (Honolulu/Kaiser). Schneider followed with a two-run double.
The Oaks answered with three runs in the fifth, two which were unearned, to knot the game at 4. Menlo took the lead in the sixth then got an insurance run in the seventh.
Buck led off the bottom of the sixth with a double but was left stranded. Jacobsen's line drive comebacker nicked off the top of Menlo pitcher Alysia Elizarrey's glove for a seventh-inning hit to bring the tying run to the plate but CUH was unable to find the final-inning magic.
Chaminade had seven base knocks in the nightcap. Walker started the first 4 1/3 innings, allowing four runs, only one which was earned.
Kayden Lopez (Bakersfield, Calif./Garces Memorial) scattered three hits in going the final 2 2/3 in taking the loss.
Lucy Brooks and Sydney Costello each had three hits for Menlo which had nine total. Elizarrey went the distance to pick up the win.
The Silverswords and Oaks wrap up the four-game series with a doubleheader on Sunday, a makeup from Friday's rainout. First pitch is at noon, pending the weather.
