Posted with permission, article and pictures, from Chaminade University
TURLOCK, Calif. – The Chaminade University softball team had the 25th-ranked team in the nation on the ropes Sunday but couldn’t deliver the knockout blow.
The Silverswords surrendered a two-run lead but Chico State rallied to hand Chaminade a 3-2 loss in the final day of the Tournament of Champions at the Pedretti Sports Complex.
Taryn Fujioka (Aiea, O’ahu, Hawai’i/Pearl City), Keaolani Takemura (Pearl City, O’ahu, Hawai’i/Mid-Pacific Institute) and Malia Ka`akimaka-Moisa (Ewa Beach, O’ahu, Hawai’i/Campbell) combined for six of the team’s seven hits as the ‘Swords wrapped up their 18-day, 17-game road trip.
Chaminade fell to 12-19 while Chico State improved to 26-11.
The ‘Swords, who were seeking their first win over a nationally ranked foe since the 2018 TOC, made an early statement to the Wildcats. Fujioka doubled to lead off the game and two batters later, Takemura doubled as well to plate Fujioka for the game’s first run. Takemura made it 2-0, scoring on a Chico State error.
They also had a chance to add on, getting runners to second and third in both the second and fourth innings.
Starter Jaeda Cabunoc (Kaneohe, O’ahu, Hawai’i/Roosevelt) held the Wildcats bats in check, facing the minimum through the first three frames, including an inning-ending double play in the third.
But in the Chico half of the fourth, Nina Revoir had an RBI single but an outfield error allowed a second run to cross which tied the game. The error also allowed Revior to reach second and subsequently scoring on Kyra Gooler’s single which allowed the Wildcats to take a 3-2 lead.
In the top of the seventh, Fujioka and Takemura both singled, representing the tying and go-ahead runs, respectively. However, both runners were left stranded on base.
Fujioka, Takemura and Ka’akimaka-Moisa each had two hits for Chaminade while Cheyne Obara (Pearl City, O’ahu, Hawai’i/Pearl City) had the other. Cabunoc scattered six hits and struck out a career-high three but fell to 7-11 on the year.
Mari Taketa Bajan got the win for Chico State, coming out of the bullpen in the second and kept the ‘Swords off the scoreboard in her 5 2/3 innings of relief.
The Silverswords return home and resume Pacific West Conference action next Sunday when they face in-city rival Hawai’i Pacific University for the first time this season at HPU’s Howard Okita Field. First pitch is scheduled for 12 p.m.
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