Kaiser improves to 3-0 with 15-1 win over Kalani

Greg Yamamoto | SL

Ivane Aholelei allowed just one run on one hit and the Cougars' offense erupted for 15 runs on 13 hits in a mercy rule win over Kalani.

Kaiser is off to 3-0 start, due in large part to 46 runs scored in its first three contests, but keeping opposing teams off the scoreboard over the last two games has made the sailing much smoother compared to the Cougars' season opening win over Kailua.

In that game, the Surfriders put up 16 runs of their own and racked up 18 hits. Since then, Kaiser has allowed just two runs on four hits in 10 innings.

"I just thought about making contact with the ball and trying to hit," said Kylie Ifuku, who led the way with an RBI double in the first and followed that up with an inside-the-park, two RBI home run in the bottom of the fourth. "I didn't really think too much at the plate because it would mess me up."

Ifuku and Shea Higa each contributed a trio of hits each, as Kaiser's first six batters accounted for 12 of the team's 13 hits and drove in 14 of the 15 runs in the game.

Rylan Nakamura reached base safely in all four plate appearances, and scored four times, tied for team best with Ifuku.

Christen Horita pitched a complete game for Kalani and struck out five to bring her season total to a Division I leading 31, but was charged with 13 earned runs in the loss.

"We were definitely a little intimidated by Christian (Horita) as we know what she's capable of," said Higa. "She's definitely one of the strongest pitchers in the East and I think we all just wanted to go in there and make sure we get hits and get on (base)."

Kaiser built a lead early and continued to rack up the runs with each successive inning, plating four in the first, four in the second and then five in the third.

Nine batters came to the plate in each of the first three innings for the Cougars.

"The main I had in mind was get on base," said Higa, who was 3-for-4 on the afternoon. "I'm just trying to look for good strikes, and just trying to foul off everything until I get the right pitch."

Going back to the shortened 2019 season, the Cougars have now won five straight games and have posted mercy rule wins in three of them.

Aholelei's ERA stands 0.70 on the season. In ten innings pitched, she has allowed just five hits with four strikeouts and eight walks.