Marauders slip past Dragons, 3-2

Waipahu's Cierra Colombini comes home for the Marauders' first run of the afternoon. CJ Caraang | SL

Waipahu rallied from an early first inning deficit to top Honokaa, 3-2, in the opening round of the DataHouse/HHSAA Division II state tournament at McKinley's Tiger Softball Stadium Wednesday afternoon.

The Marauders, the third place team from the Oahu Interscholastic Association, moves on to face top-seed and Big Island Interscholastic Federation champion KS-Hawaii in Thursday's 2:15 p.m. quarterfinal.

Honokaa, the fourth place team from the BIIF, scored two unearned runs in the bottom of the first inning to take an early 2-0 lead over the Marauders.

Waipahu broke through with three unearned runs in the top of the fourth inning to take the lead for good over the Dragons.

Donna Samuela earned the win in the pitching circle for the Marauders, scattering two hits with three strikeouts against nine walks in six innings pitched.

Grace Kaopua, an All-OIA Division II Second Team selection, pitched the final half-inning of the game to record the save for the Marauders. Kaopua also led the Marauders at the plate, batting 2-for-3 with one RBI and one run scored.

Keesha Matsuoka was charged with the loss for the Dragons, giving up six hits with one walk and one strikeout in four innings of work. Alexis Martinez pitched the final three innings for Honokaa, giving up one hit the rest of the way.

Xyan Ancheta and Aulii Meyer had the only hits for Honokaa.