Honolulu, HI –
Kelsie Hawkins (Victoria, BC) recorded her second consecutive shut out on Friday as the Simon Fraser University softball team split their doubleheader against the Chaminade University Silverswords.
The Clan won game two 8-0 after game one ended on a Clan error that allowed the winning run to score, giving the home team a 6-5 win.
"It's a long road to where we want to get to and we're making improvements," said Head Coach Mike Renney. "I was really pleased with the way we bounced back in the second game. Given how the first game was lost a lot of teams would have struggled out of the chute in the second game. We didn't do that. We came out with a vengence and showed some offensive power that we hadn't yet seen this year."
Hawkins threw five innings and allowed three hits and no runs to record the win and her second shutout in as many outings in game two.
The Clan jumped out to an early 3-0 lead with a run in the first and two in the third. SFU broke it open in the fourth with four runs and added another in the fifth to make it 8-0 before Hawkins shut down the home side in the bottom of the fifth to secure the mercy rule shortened win.
Danielle Raison (Langley, BC) went two for three in the game with two home run runs, to record two runs batted in.
Alex Baylak (Regina, SK) also homered in the game, her first collegiate home run, as she notched two RBI's and scored a run herself.
Kaitlyn Cameron (Langley, BC) also homered for the Clan when she got SFU on the board with a solo shot in the first inning.
Cara Lukawesky (Coquitlam, BC) got the start and took the loss in game one. In six and two thirds innings pitched, Lukawesky gave up six hits and allowed six runs but only three of those runs were earned.
SFU made two errors in the first game.
The loss in game one was a heartbreaker as the Clan took a 5-4 lead into the seventh inning, only to have it slip away.
After Lukawesky got a ground out to open the inning, she hit Kori Berinobis with a pitch, putting the tying run on first.
Berinobis stole second and the next batter walked as the Clan put the go ahead run on base.
On a ground out the two runners advanced to second and third, putting the winning run on second for the home team with two outs.
Aja Keyes then reached on a Clan error, which allowed the two runs to score and give Chaminade the victory.
"The first game was a heartbreakter. It ended on an error on what I think was a catchable ball but chalk that up to early season rust. I told the team after that it was a close game and we had some missed opportunities early on. We didn't lose the game on that one play," said Renney.
Trisha Bouchard (Montreal, QC) went two for four with a run scored and Lauran Kolanko (North Vancouver, BC) went two for three with a run scored.
Lauren Mew (Vancouver, BC) and Raison (Langley, BC) each had a run batted in for the Clan but the big run producer in the game for SFU was
Mackenzie Bender (St. Albert, AB), who had three RBI's thanks to the first home run of her Clan career.
The split puts the Clan's record at 3-6 in non-conference play so far this season.
SFU will wrap up their trip to Hawaii with a double header against the Hawaii Pacific Seawarriors on Saturday in Honolulu, HI.
