WAIPAHU, Hawai'i – The UBC Thunderbirds softball team opened the 2019 season with a doubleheader split Sunday at Chaminade, an NCAA Division II school in Hawaii.

The host Silverswords took the opening game with a 3-2 win when freshman shortstop Hailey Matsumura scored the go-ahead run in the sixth inning to break a 2-2 tie while Madelyn Stockslager allowed no earned runs in a complete-game four-hitter.

The Thunderbirds took the nightcap, 7-6, with the help of a four-run top of sixth before hanging on for the win.

Chaminade is 2-3 on the season while UBC is 1-1.

Game 1

Catcher Jordan Britten-Yung drove in two runs in the top of the opening inning with her first career hit as a Thunderbird. The hit scored Claire Eccles and Mia Valcke, the member of Canada's national baseball team who was making her collegiate debut.

Chaminade answered in the bottom of the inning on a bases-loaded walk by Kiana Ulufale and an infield hustle single by Malia Ka`akimaka-Moisa, which knotted the game at 2-2.

In the bottom of the sixth, Matsumura, who earlier in the game got her first career base hit, got her second by singling up the middle to lead off the inning. Karyna Baldomino put down a sacrifice bunt but reached on a dropped throw. Matsumura, who had made her way to second, then alertly raced to third when the ball was mishandled.

Two batters later, Yagin hit a chopper to third allowing Matsumura to dash for the plate for the go-ahead run.

In the seventh, UBC got a runner into scoring position at second base but Stockslager struck out the game's final two batters for the win.

Game 2

UBC exploded for four runs in the sixth inning to grab a 7-2 lead. Rookie Cassa Courtney drove in her first career run with a single to left field. After an Avery Hilpert base hit, her first at the university level, Sierra Sherritt provided the big blow with a three-run home run, which chased 'Swords' starter Kayla Higuchi.

The home side replied with four runs of their own in the bottom of the sixth but Shelby Kempel earned the save by throwing the final 1.1 innings for her first career save.

Eccles opened the game with a solo home run as she drove a 2-2 pitch over the right-field fence.

Chaminade loaded the bases with no outs in their half of the inning, and got one run on a dropped infield pop-up, before Matsumura drove in her first run with an RBI single to put Chaminade up 2-1.

Michaela Moore tied the game in the second inning with an RBI double to left centre, and then scored later in the inning on a throwing error by the Chaminade catcher.

UBC got 12 hits in the nightcap with Sherritt, Valcke and Moore getting two each, while starting pitcher Damara Begin lasted 5 2/3 innings to get the win.