LA MIRADA, Calif. – The Chaminade University baseball team opened their final mainland road series Friday with a pair of losses to Biola University at Eagles Diamond.
The Silverswords dropped the opener, 12-3, then the nightcap, 4-2.
Chris Mata (Wailuku, Maui, Hawai'i/South Mountain CC/Maui HS) and
Cade Fujii (Kapolei, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Porterville College/Kapolei HS) accounted for nine of Chaminade's hits in the twin bill with the latter providing four RBI on the day.
Mata has hits in five straight games while upping his batting average to .398 while Fujii has a team-leading 25 RBI.
Chaminade is 9-33 and 7-29 in the Pacific West Conference while Biola is 20-22 and 16-18 in the conference.
Game 1: BU 12, CUH 3
The Eagles got all the runs they needed by scoring seven times in the second inning, although an error opened the door to five additional runs after the 'Swords trailed 2-0.
With Biola taking a 9-0 lead and threatening to put the 10-run mercy-rule in effect, Chaminade ended those thoughts in the fifth on an RBI single from Mata and a two-run double by Fujii.
Anthony O'Cañas (Woodland, Calif./American River College/Woodland HS) struck out four in two innings to take the loss while
Fisher Migita (Honolulu/Mid-Pacific Institute) allowed four runs, one unearned, over the next four innings.
Chaminade actually out-hit Biola with 11 base hits to the home team's 10. Mata, Fujii,
Cameron Breeze (Temecula, Calif./San Diego City College/Paloma Valley HS),
Bode Poler (Montesano, Wash./Gonzaga University/Montesano HS) and
Taylor Ayala (Bountiful, Utah/Salt Lake CC/Woods Cross HS) each had two for the Silverswords while
Caleb Kim (Aiea, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Christian Academy) added a pinch-hit base knock.
Jacob Talbott picked up the win for Biola.
Game 2: BU 4, CUH 2
Fujii's RBI single in the first inning to give the 'Swords the nightcap's first run. After the Eagles tied it, the senior shortstop brought home Mata with his second RBI – fourth of the afternoon – to put CUH up 2-1 in the third.
The Eagles eventually knotted the score again with a run in the fourth then assumed the lead with two in the fifth.
After Mata's third hit of the game which led off the top of the fifth, the Silverswords' bats went cold with nine straight retired.
Mata's three-hit game was his fourth multi-hit contest in the last five outings while Fujii had the only other two hits.
Brennen Panis (Aiea, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Aiea) struck out four in his 3 1/3 innings, allowing just two runs on five hits.
Ryan Kepple (Dana Point, Calif./Saddleback College/Capistrano Valley Christian HS) went the final 2 2/3, scattering three hits, in taking the loss.
Gabe Magellan went six frames to get the win for Biola while Blake Wentz picked up the save.
The teams conclude the series Saturday with a nine- and seven-inning doubleheader starting at 9 a.m. Hawai'i time.
