by KANEOHE, Hawai’i – Hawai’i Pacific University got a pair of great pitching performances on Saturday in sweeping cross-town rival Chaminade 2-1 and 8-0 (five innings) in PacWest Conference play at Howard Okita Field.
The Sharks (31-22, 22-12) allowed the Silverswords (11-33, 8-24) only six hits between the two games. HPU posted its first 30-win season since 2013 when it recorded a 30-19 season.
The Sharks outstanding pitching performances started with senior righthander Jordan Curry (19-8) of Farmington, N.M./Farmington hurling a complete game two-hitter in the first contest, allowing an unearned run with three walks and four strikeouts. Curry picked up her 22nd complete game in 26 starts this season.
Junior righthander Emilee Leonard of LaMirada, Calif./Saint Paul followed with a four-hit complete game shutout in game two. Leonard struck out three with four walks in five innings, as she recorded her fourth shutout and 11th complete game this season.
Junior first baseman/designated player Brazzlyn Tovio-Asato of Kapolei, Hawai’i/University Lab had the hot bat for the day, going 3-for-5 with two doubles, a triple, an RBI and a run scored. Sophomore catcher Mary Dungee went 2-for-3 in the second game with two doubles, two RBIs and a run scored. Senior shortstop Tiana Cantero-Kawelo of Wahiawa, Hawai’i/Leilehua was 2-for-4 in the two games with an RBI and a run scored.
The first game was a pitchers’ duel between Curry (Navajo) and Chaminade’s Madelyn Stockslager. Neither pitcher allowed their opponents much through the first five innings with Curry allowing one hit and Stockslager three hits sending the game scoreless to the sixth.
The Swords opened the sixth inning with Rainelle Matsuoka leading off by reaching on an error when the Sharks dropped the throw at first. After a sacrifice and a single to move Matsuoka to third, Malia Ka’akimaka-Moisa grounded into a fielder’s choice that drove in the unearned run to lead 1-0.
The Sharks answered in the bottom of the sixth, with Tovio-Asato collecting a one-out double to right. Curry helped her own cause with an RBI double to left field to tie the game. Curry moved to third on a ground out, sending pinch hitter Leonard to the plate. Leonard fought off two pitches but swung and missed on a pitch in the dirt with two out. The ball rolled to the backstop, allowing Leonard to reach first on the wild pitch and Curry to score the go ahead run for a 2-1 lead.
Curry hit the first CUH batter in the seventh, who eventually made it to third with two out. But the Sword stranded the runner as Curry struck out the final batter of the game for the win.
Stockslager (9-15) recorded the loss, allowing two runs on six hits with a walk and three strikeouts.
