Big inning aids No. 3 Maui to victory against No. 8 Waiakea

Greg Yamamoto | SL

MANOA - No. 3 Maui sent 11 batters up in a five-run third inning to take down No. 8 Waiakea, 6-4, in a Wednesday quarterfinal of the Wally Yonamine Foundation Division I state baseball tournament at Les Murakami Stadium.

Logan Kuloloia pitched 6 1/3 innings, allowing four runs - three earned - six hits, and three walks with no strikeouts for the win. He needed help from right fielder Dawson Nuese, who got the final two outs to save the game.

Waiakea took a 1-0 lead in the third with the help of a two-out error.

But the Sabers chased Warriors starting pitcher Kaleb Wada after 2 1/3 innings thanks to the five-run third. He was charged with four runs, three earned, three hits and two walks with one strikeout. He was relieved by Lucas Yamanaka, who was greeted with a two-run triple by EJ Ramones. He hit the next two batters and was replaced by Jerrell Alston, who gave up a single to Noriyuki Dumlao that loaded the bases, but got the next two batters to end the inning.

Waiakea pulled to 5-3 in the top of the fifth on a bases-loaded walk to Ivor Brooks and a fielder's choice force out.

But Maui got one of the runs back in the bottom of the fifth. With one out, Trey Shimabukuro walked and took third on a hit-and-run single by Dumlao. But right fielder Jesse Inouye misplayed the ball, allowing Shimabukuro to score as Dumlao made it to third. Izaiah Koko popped a bunt to third baseman Isaiah Justo, who doubled off the runner at third unassisted.

Waiakea pulled to 6-4 in the top of the seventh on Wada's RBI double that chased Kuloloia. But Nuese came in to retire the last two batters to earn the save.