Saint Louis starter Chase Meilleur pitched a complete game, struck out five and allowed three earned runs on six hits to earn the victory. Steve Erler | SL

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ALA WAI— Timely hits and a strong defensive performance helped lift fifth-ranked Saint Louis past third-ranked Kamehameha, 5-3 in an Interscholastic League of Honolulu contest at Ala Wai Field on Saturday morning.

The Crusaders improves to 8-4 to sit in second place in the ILH standings, while the Warriors dropped their second-straight game in less than 24 hours to fall to 8-5. With two more games left in the regular season, Kamehameha will play Punahou (7-6) and Mid-Pacific (10-3) at Goeas Field. Saint Louis closes out the season at Ala Wai for the next three games against Maryknoll (2-11), Punahou and Iolani (3-9).

"It's no secret we have been struggling offensively. Timely hitting, alley to alley and these guys have been working hard to get in the groove. I think we were trying too hard and we tried a different approach and it's great to see us bust out today," said Saint Louis coach George Gusman.

Chase Meilleur pitched a full game and threw five strikes and allowed six hits and three earned runs. Saint Louis' offense generated 10 hits for the game and scored three runs in the third to break a one run stalemate.

"A lot of it had to do with my teammates behind me. That home run I left one up, it was a great hit and he drove it far. We had great players behind me making plays today," said Meilleur.

"Pitching wise, I think this is how Chase has been pitching early on. Change ups were great, breaking balls for strikes and locating his fast ball. Guys might not have their best stuff every day. He made one mistake to Quinlan, who is one of the best hitters in the state," said Gusman, on Chase Meilleur.

Brendan Uchima, who went 2-for-3, and cracked a double to right field that brought in Ronson Trimbreza , who came in for Taylor Meilleur, for the first score of the game.

Kamehameha tied the game at one as Nick Penzetta hit a triple to center field and Micah McNicoll scored Penzetta with a single. However Meilleur and the Crusader defense went to work to allow a Warriors' hit for the next two innings.

"Today it was a little bit more us than anything. You cannot go five innings and not manufacture any runs or making anything happen. We had some issues, we had some catchable balls that we could've got and close calls that could've gone either way," said Kamehameha coach Tom Perkins.

The bats came alive for Saint Louis as the momentum shifted in favor of the designated home team. Taylor Meilleur went 2-for-4 and hit a home run to center field in the third inning to open the flood gates for the Crusaders. Uchima, Kaiolohia Perreira-Alquiza and DJ Stephens all followed up with triples. After the third inning, Saint Louis held a 4-1 lead.

"It's a lot easier to play with a large lead and it's easier to play with a lead than not having any at all and it was big for our defense and they started gaining confidence after that," said Meilleur.

"We have been struggling with hitting. We went to the plate with confidence and we manufactured runs. We have to stick together and play solid defense," said Uchima.

Lii Pontes pitched 3 2/3 innings and gave up four runs--all earned in the loss. Hunter Breault came in to pitch the remainder of the game. 

"They were all great gap hits and Saint Louis did a great job," said Perkins.

Hunter Guarco singled to left field and Keith Torres hit a double to left to bring Guarco in for another Crusader run.

Kamehameha came back in the sixth inning to make the game interesting. Meilleur walked Logan Salcedo, who advanced to second off of Chase Miyamoto's sacrifice bunt. Mason Quinlan launched a two RBI home run over the left field fence as the Warriors cut it to a two run deficit.

"We kept losing the close calls at the bases. That's the way the game goes," said Perkins.

Saint Louis looked to extend the lead further in the bottom of the sixth, but could not manufacture any runs. Breault walked two straight batters and Torres' bunt single loaded the bases. Dylan Pagente, who came in for John Kea, started charging for home off a passed ball, but was tagged out. The Warriors got out of the inning with a double play.

The Crusaders handcuffed the Warriors in the seventh inning. Dylan Salcedo hit it to Chase Meilleur for the first out and after Penzetta reached on error, he was caught stealing second. Saint Louis shook off the error as Meilleur struck out McNicoll to end the game.

"We had to dig deep and make sure we played our game to close out strong," said Uchima.