Campbell's Kainoa Ganancial smiles after getting on safely. He batted 2 for 2 in the Sabers' win. Tyler Guieb | SL

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WAILUKU, Maui – With a team of all new starters, No. 8 Campbell has begun its defense of its state title.

Freshman Ayzek Silva pitched 2 1/3 scoreless innings of relief and Campbell cashed in on three Punahou errors for all its scoring in a 3-2 win in the opening round of the Wally Yonamine Foundation Division I state baseball tournament at Iron Maehara Stadium.

The Sabers (11-6) will meet third-seeded Kailua in the 10:45 a.m. quarterfinal Thursday. Kailua beat Campbell, 10-3, in the Oahu Interscholastic Association quarterfinals on April 21.

Silva, a 5-foot-11 left-hander, has been used in tough situations all season, coach Rory Pico said. Silva has lowered his earned run average to 0.53 in 13 1/3 innings.

"We've kind of used him in that role all year and he's been successful for us," Pico said of Silva's poise. "That's why we had no hesitation bringing him in that kind of situation."

Silva entered the game for Sampson with runners at first and second with two outs. Silva retired Andrew Matsueda on a grounder to short for a force at second to end the threat.

With the game tied at 2, the Sabers scored the go-ahead run in the top of the seventh inning. With runners at first and second with two out, relief pitcher Riley Guieb uncorked a pitch in the dirt that scooted about six feet away from catcher Logan Williams. The runners took off on the pitch in the dirt, Williams retrieved the ball, but his throw to third sailed into left field, allowing Nicholas Sampson to score.

Silva picked up the win in relief of starter Sampson, who went 4 2/3 innings, giving up two runs, six hits and two walks with four strikeouts.

The Buffanblu trailed 2-0 when they began to catch up with Sampson in the fifth. Asa Kurasaki led off with a double, took third on a wild pitch and an out later, scored on Cole Cabrera's sacrifice fly to left to pull to 2-1. Goss then signled and scored on Easton Takamoto's double to left. After DH Noah Loughlin walked, Sampson was pulled for Silva.

"He kept us in the game," Pico said of Sampson, sophomore. "He left some (pitches) up and Punahou's a team. Every mistake he made, they hit the ball hard. It was the third time through (the batting order) and we had to make a switch."

Punahou starting pitcher Noah Goss took the loss. In 6 1/3 innings, he allowed three runs – all unearned – seven hits and two walks with a strikeout before giving way to Guieb with one out in the seventh.

The Sabers struggled through the regular season as players worked out kinks. After all, those who were on last year's title team did not see as much action because of the experienced players ahead of them.

"We struggled a lot early," Pico said. "We had to fight through our struggles. As a team, I think it made them tougher. When you get into (tight) situations, you have that experience now (from the regular season). I think they're able to keep their composure and do what they gotta do."

It was a tough loss for the Buffanblu, as all the runs they allowed were unearned.

"We dealt with a lot of adversity this year," Punahou coach Keenan Sue said. "For us to be here…it was a win in itself just to be here. "After the last couple years we had and we had a tough year last year, for them to turn it around so quickly, I think it's something they're going to be able to fall back on the rest of their lives."