Mililani players celebrate after making a double play with the bases loaded, to end the 7th inning; giving the Trojans a spot in the D1 Championship. Greg Yamamoto | SL

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Maya Yoshiura is congratulated at home plate after her home run in the 6th inning. Greg Yamamoto | SL

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MANOA – With the bases loaded and one out in the bottom of the seventh, Mama Rivera got a hard hit ground ball to her at third. The third baseman quickly fielded the grounder, stepped on her bag at third and made an accurate throw across the diamond to first base for the final out to send the Mililani Trojans (15-2) back to the championship game

"It was just a reaction," said Rivera. "I thought, ‘this batter could hit it anywhere' and I wasn't expecting it to be me."

All the odds were against the defending state champions as the Maryknoll Spartans (16-3-1) had the bases loaded with no one out in the final inning and Rivera recorded the last three outs for the Trojans.

The top seed in the 2015 Datahouse/Hawaii High School Athletic Association Division I Softball Championships survived another close game as the Trojans held off the Lady Spartans, 3-2, Thursday night at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.

"That was awesome. We practice that every day," said Mililani coach Rose Antonio about Rivera's last play. "Ball straight to her, step on the base and get the out at first. That was huge. That was a very smart play on her part."

Junior pitcher Aubree Kim went the distance for the Trojans to earn the win. Kim struck out seven Lady Spartans and allowed just two runs on five hits. The one area Kim struggled was in the walks department where she walked nine batters. The Lady Spartans threatened Kim in almost every inning as Maryknoll could not capitalize on its opportunities with 17 runners left on base.

"I think it's a little bit of both pitching and defense," Kim said about the stranded baserunners. "My defense always has my back and when I'm in those situations I do my best."

Maryknoll drew first blood in the bottom of the second off of senior Shearyna Labasan RBI single to left field. Labasan put in a 2-for-3 perfomance from the plate with an RBI, and a walk.

Labasan also pitched all the way for the Spartans as she finished with three runs on six hits and struck out seven Trojans.

Mililani answered in the top of the fourth when sophomore Maya Yoshiura hit a solo homerun over the leftfield wall to tie the game up.

"I was just trying to make solid contact," said Yoshiura. "I knew Sheryna is a really good pitcher and she wants to get ahead. I had to swing at the first good pitch she pitched to me."

Yoshiura was not done as she singled up the middle to lead off in the top of the sixth. Yoshiura finished 2-for-4 with an RBI and scored twice. 

A sacrifice-bunt and a Kristen Ishii single put runners at the corners for the Trojans with Rivera on deck. Rivera hit what seemed to be an easy ground ball to the second baseman but was muffed and scooted into the outfield to score Yoshiura.

"I just had confidence up in the box," said Rivera. "Coach Rose wanted me to slash and I did. I got the hit when it counted the most." Rivera finished 1-for-3 with an RBI.

The next batter was junior Tristian Cozo and she delievered a single into centerfield. The centerfielder charged hard and misplayed the ball which allowed Ishii to score making the difference 3-1.

The Lady Spartans got the bases loaded in the bottom of the sixth and pinch hitter freshmen Kamryn Kamakaiwi worked a walk against Kim to score Shearyna Labasan to make to score 3-2. But like a magician Kim got the next batter to pop out to the shortstop and get her team out of the jam.

Kim found trouble again in the bottom of the seventh as the Lady Spartans didn't go down without a fight. Junior Bree Soma singled to centerfield to lead off the inning. Followed up by a double by sophomore Kamalei Labasan over the left fielder's head. After a walk the bases were loaded as the Trojans got the next batter to pop up into foul territory to Rivera for the first out. Shearyna Labasan came to the plate again and Rivera took care of the rest as she turned the double play to end the game.

"It's like deja vu again from last year's state championship," said Coach Antonio. "It's going to be another battle because this is the fourth time we will face each other. We both know what each other has."

The Trojans will return to the championship game to defend their title against their OIA rivals Campbell Friday night at 7 p.m. They will try to join a select group of teams that are back-to-back D1 state softball champions.