After an up-and-down 2014 season, the Punahou softball team is off a solid start to 2015 at 2-0.

The Buffanblu have used late-inning heroics in both of their victories so far in the Interscholastic League of Honolulu. They scored the winning run in the bottom of the seventh in a 5-4 win over Iolani Saturday and posted five runs in the bottom of the sixth in Thursday's 5-4 win over Maryknoll.

A big part of this year's success is due to the steady play of pitcher Nicole Nishizawa, who has logged all 14 innings pitched and is credited with both pitching wins.

Nishizawa has allowed five earned runs on eight hits on the season. She has allowed six walks and struck out six with a 2.50 earned-run average. The stats only tell part of the story, however.

"From a maturity standpoint, (Nishizawa) has improved a lot since last year," Punahou coach Bob Makahilahila said. "Last year when she would struggle, she literally would unravel, but then this year she comes back with her composure."

Thursday afternoon Nishizawa found herself locked up in a pitcher's duel with Spartans' ace Shearyna Labasan. The game was scoreless until Maryknoll plated a run in the top of the fourth inning. It could have been worse had Nishizawa not retired the final two batters of the inning with a runner in scoring position.

Maryknoll added three more runs in the top of the sixth to take what seemed like a commanding 4-0 lead with Labasan dealing from the pitcher's circle, but Nishizawa and Punahou rallied with five runs in the bottom of the frame.

Kawailana Mielke, Sarah Sumida and Nishizawa each drew a one-out walk to load the bases. Two runs scored after Krystin Wong put the ball into play — and the Spartans committed two errors — two more runners scored on Bailey Akimseu's two-out double to right center and a third error in the inning allowed the go-ahead runner to score.

"Both pitchers, I felt, were just incredible in terms of what they accomplished," Makahilahila said of Labasan and Nishizawa. "We knew it was going to be tough and we knew that we need to try and get at least a run or two because she's been a great pitcher throughout her career."

The win wasn't sealed until Nishizawa retired the final three Maryknoll batters in the top of the seventh.

"The last inning was a good example of how much Nicole has grown," Makahilahila said. "I think the maturity, the experience now is helping her to overcome some of the things she was challenged with last year."

Punahou won the Division I state championship two years ago only to miss out on the postseason last year. Nishizawa said the realization of this being her final season has her more focused than ever.

"I think there's a big difference between junior and senior year in terms of how much you have to want it, because it's the last time I'm going to be on the field, the last time we're going to have this opportunity and I think our team is really good on coming back from adversity and that really drives us to do better and perform our best," Nishizawa said.

Makahilahila, meanwhile, was pleased to see both his veterans and rookies produce Thursday.

"It's like this year's girls want to finish properly and they're being led by the seniors, of course, but then all of the underclassmen are also stepping up to help with it," Makahilahila said. "The last inning is an indication of that with (Mielke) getting on with a walk, then (Akimseu) comes up and doubles — that's two freshmen. That's the thing that's impressive that not just our seniors, but our underclassmen are stepping up and doing a great job."