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Austyn Nagamine's two-out single in the bottom of the seventh inning lifted Moanalua to a 4-3 win over Kalani to open both teams' OIA Red campaigns.

The Falcons opened up the scoring in the first inning, when a throw to first to complete an inning-ending double play went high, allowing the runner from third to score on a fielder's choice.

Kalani continued to hold a 1-0 lead until the bottom of the fourth inning, when Nagamine came up to bat with one runner already on base.

"They were pitching me balls, so when it was 2-0 I was just looking straight fastball, and I just jumped on it (the pitch)." replied Nagamine of his shot to left center that easily cleared the fence to give Moanalua a 2-1 lead.

In the top of the next inning, the Falcons would respond, scoring two runs in the top of the fifth, the first off of the bat of Chase Sumida, who laced a grounder through the infield scoring Sean Romo. The second run was plated by Ian Higa off of a passed ball to give Kalani back the lead at 3-2.

Moanalua would score in the bottom of the fifth inning off of an Austin Inabata single that brought pinch-runner Chad Aragon home to tie that score at 3-all.

Nagamine would get the call in the top of the sixth, but this time it would be his arm, not his bat that would provide a spark.

With two runners on base and one out left to retire the side, Nagamine would pitch his way out of the inning, inducing a routine ground ball between first and second to extinguish the Falcons' chance to take the lead.

"I just try to pitch strikes, and just get it over, and let them hit me... I would rather let them hit a weak ground ball than strike them out." said Nagamine.

In the last of the seventh, Mark Kuga laced a clutch single to move Austin Inabata into scoring position with two outs and Nagamine up to bat next. The Falcons, who had gave the 6'0 senior an intentional pass on his last time up to bat, did not do so this time.

And Nagamine would deliver, hitting a looper over the third baseman and into left field for a base hit. Inabata would motor his way past third and on to home, sliding to the plate well ahead of the throw to give Moanalua a 4-3 win in walk-off fashion.

"They pitched me this change-up up-and-in, and I just hit it and got jammed, but it went over the third baseman." said Nagamine of his game-clinching hit.

"He kind of did it all" said Moanalua head coach Scott Yamada on Nagamine's performance, "but to me, it's a team effort. No matter if we win or lose, it's a team thing too."

Yamada added, "This year its going to come down to a bunt... or you know, playing the small game, and that's what it comes down to... just clutching up at the end. I think this year with the bats, its going to be a big change. I don't think you're going to see big scores anymore, and I think its the teams that execute defensively and offensively playing small ball (will find success)."

Moanalua (1-0) will try to keep their winning momentum going as they face Kalani (0-1) again tomorrow at Kahala Field at 11 a.m.

"I think during the preseason we struggled...so I think this is a good win for us, (it) puts us going in the right direction." said Yamada.