After stranding nine base runners through six innings, all Punahou could hope for was a well-timed break.

Top-ranked Mid-Pacific provided one — just one — and the visiting Buffanblu turned it into an astounding three-run rally for a 4-3 win over the Owls on Tuesday at Damon Field on the MPI campus.

An infield error with two outs in the top of the seventh was the start of an avalanche that left MPI ace Travis Garcia-Perreira on the short end. The senior southpaw gave up just one earned run; all three Punahou runs in the seventh were unearned.

Senior Zach Muenster and sophomore Aaron Fong turned out to be the heroes for third-ranked Punahou, which improved to 9-1 in the Interscholastic League of Honolulu. The key win pushed the Buffanblu into a first-place tie with previously unbeaten MPI.

Muenster went 3-for-4 at the plate and set Mid-Pacific down in order in the bottom of the seventh to get the win. Fong delivered a clutch, two-out RBI double in the top of the seventh to give Punahou the lead. His SportsCenter-worthy, two-out diving catch near the left-field line on a liner by Joshua Donovan saved two runs in the fifth inning.

“We had two hunches today. (Pitching coach) Matt (Apana) told me if we get ahead, we’ll go with Zach to close out, and I said, ‘OK.’ And this morning, I had a hunch about putting Aaron in there. He came through for us big time,” Buffanblu coach Kenny Harrison said. “That was a big-league catch.”

Fong appeared in three league games with two at-bats until Tuesday.  

“I’m just happy I played today. I hadn’t played that much all year,” he said.

Muenster felt a sense of redemption.

“We didn’t give our all the last time we played them. This time, we deserved it,” he said, recalling a 6-4 loss to MPI nearly two weeks ago. “Hat’s off to Trav. He’s a bull out there. He’s a fighter on the mound and he’s a good guy, but errors kill. We showed our hearts. We really wanted it. Some guys stepped up and were clutch.”

The Owls wasted a solid effort by Garcia-Perreira, coined the “Bulldog” by coach Dunn Muramaru, but Punahou’s win also overshadowed a remarkable steal of home plate by Nikolas Alarcio in the bottom of the sixth. That play gave Mid-Pacific a 3-1 lead against Punahou ace David Torigoe. It was classic small ball by Muramaru; twice, the Owls had one-run innings without the benefit of a base hit.

“We haven’t done it in a while,” Muramaru said of the scintillating play by Alarcio. “We had to get a run. We shot all our bullets.”

That cushion seemed safe after Punahou’s Nate Higa flew out for the second out in the top of the seventh. But Tyler Loui sent a seeing-eye single to left to keep the inning alive. Niko Takayesu then hit a hard chopper to first, where backup first baseman Joshua Donovan got handcuffed by an in-between hop.

“I looked up and I realized it was going right at (Donovan) and my heart stopped for a moment,” Takayesu said. “Real lucky that the ball took a bad hop.”

Muenster, who had singled earlier, came home from second on the play to bring Punahou within 3-2. With runners at second and third, Garcia-Perreira had no room for error, but uncorked a wild pitch that allowed pinch runner Lanson Yamamoto to score the tying run.

It was the only wild pitch of the game for Garcia-Perreira, who lost for the first time in league play after two wins.

Fong then smacked a 2-1 pitch to the left-field corner off relief pitcher Trey Saito to give the Buffanblu a 4-3 lead.

“It was a good game,” Muramaru said, re-lacing a pair of shoes after the game. “We lost our poise there. We lost a game, that’s all.”

Harrison continues to preach consistency to his young team.

“We try to teach our kids every day to stay even, don’t get too high, don’t get too low. Hopefully, this helps us grow,” he said.

At Mid-Pacific

David Torigoe, Jesse Crabtree (6), Dylan Takamori (6), Zach Muenster (7) and K.J. Harrison. Travis Garcia-Perreira, Trey Saito (7), Deric Valoroso (7) and Marcus Doi.

W—Muenster. L—Garcia-Perreira.

Leading hitters—Punahou: Beau Branton 2-4, Muenster 3-4, RBI, run; Aaron Fong 2-4, double, RBI. MPI: Garcia-Perreira 2-4, run.

ILH BASEBALL

No. 7 Kamehameha 7, Pac-Five 4

The Warriors started strong with a five-run first inning to defeat the Wolfpack.

Colin Schmidt led Pac-Five, going 2-for-3 with a double and triple.

At CORP

Zach Kaohu, Nick Young (4) and Moku Kukonu. Micah Witty Oakland, Devyn Uyeki (6) and Joseph Choy.

W—Young. L—Witty.

Leading hitters—KS: Hoku Botelho 2-2, 2b, RBI, run; James DeJesus 2-3, run; Trey Kodama HR, 2 RBIs, run; Kukonu 3b, 2 RBIs, run. P5: Joseph Choy 2-3; Colin Schmidt 2-3, 2b, 3b, RBI.

Saint Louis 19, St. Francis 2

The Crusaders combined for 17 hits and no errors in a win over the Saints.

Saint Louis’ Braeden Nelson claimed the win on the mound.

At CORP

Jacob White, Eric Scott (3), Braeden Nelson (4) and Jordan Yamamoto, Niklas Ajifu (4). Sean Baptiste, Kreighton Tsuruda (2), Bryson Davis (5) and Davis, Tyler Apuna (5).

W—Nelson. L—Baptiste.

Leading hitters—StL: Isaac Ramboyon 3-3, 2 runs; DJ Dureg 2-2, RBI, run; Rayson Romero 2-3, 3b, 2 RBIs, 2 runs; Ka‘ai Tom 2-3, 2 RBIs, 2 runs; Ka‘imi Umebayashi 2-3, 2b, 2 RBIs, 3 runs; Shayne Kurihara 2b, 3 RBIs, run. StF: Cyrus Murakami 2-3, 2b, run; Tsuruda 2-3; Davis HR, 2 RBIs, run.

ALSO

‘Iolani 7, Maryknoll 7
(9 innings)

Game suspended due to darkness.

OIA RED WEST BASEBALL

Waianae 12, Kapolei 6

Joe Garcia went 3-for-4 at the plate to lead the Seariders over the Hurricanes.

Waianae’s Sheaven Delima-Fereira pitched in the win.

At Kapolei

Sheaven Delima-Fereira, Austin Reese (7) and Joe Garcia, Wayne Silva (6). William Leskovec, Dylan White (3), Aizon Kahana (5) and Kahana, Leskovec (3).

W—Delima-Fereira. L—Leskovec.

Leading hitters—Wain: Garcia 3-4, 4 RBIs; Cleghorn Borge 2-3, 3 runs; Chasetin Nash-Santiago 2-2, RBI. Kapo: Kahana 3-4; Trey Kamachi-Allen 2-3, 2 runs; Josh Simmons 2-3, 2 RBIs.

OIA RED EAST SOFTBALL

Moanalua 12, Kaiser 0

Kiana Mattos-Felcilda clubbed a three-run double to cap a nine-run rally in the bottom of the fifth as Na Menehune blanked the Cougars.

At Moanalua

Shawna Kuroiwa, Chelsea Lima (4), Kuroiwa (4) and Kim Dilda. Leisha Yamauchi and Chrissi Omalza.

W—Yamauchi. L—Kuroiwa.

Leading hitters—Moan: Dori Ann Sugai 2-4, 3b, RBI; Ariel Ajimura 2b, 2 RBIs; Kiana Mattos-Felcilda 2b, 3 RBIs.

OIA RED WEST SOFTBALL

Leilehua 5, Aiea 4

The Mules edged Na Alii with a run in the top of the sixth.

Maegan Tupinio pitched a complete game and also picked up a triple for Leilehua.

At Aiea Annex Field

Maegan Tupinio and Kelina Nakai. Raisa Strom-Okimoto and Kendra Chong.

W—Tupinio. L—Strom-Okimoto.

Leading hitters—Lei: Tupinio 2-4, 3b; Krystin Kubo 2b, 2 RBIs; Nakai 2-2. Aiea: Strom-Okimoto 2-3, 3b; Brooke Taiese 2-3; Lauren Tauanuu 2-4, 2b.

OIA WHITE SOFTBALL

Kalaheo 14, McKinley 4

The Mustangs blasted three homers to defeat the Tigers in five innings.

Kalaheo’s Sarah Fitzherbert struck out six and had a triple and home run.

At Aikahi Park

Kimberly Amor, Tiare Sugui (3) and Rachel Amor. Sarah Fitzherbert and Janica Dement.

W—Fitzherbert. L—K. Amor.

Leading hitters—Kalh: Fitzherbert 3-4, 3b, HR, RBI; Tuiai Elisara 4-4, 2b, 3b; Mahina Turner HR, 4 RBIs; Tiana Cocker two 2bs, RBI; Jaznie Lolo HR.

Waipahu 9, Waialua 1

The Marauders remain undefeated in the conference with a solid win over the Bulldogs.

Waialua suffered from 10 errors in the loss.

At Waialua

Tali Vilianu and Shandell Palencia. Sabrina Tolentino and Gabby Maxwell.

W—Vilianu. L—Tolentino.

Leading hitters—Waip: Tami Vilianu 2-4, 3b, 3 RBIs, run; Tavana Niuatoa 2-4, RBI, run; N. Vilianu 2-4, 2 runs; Tali Vilianu 3b. Wail: Charee Wong 2-3, run; Kaili Agabin 2-4.

Kahuku 30, Farrington 0

Paige Kauhi was 5-for-5 with a home run and six RBIs to power the Red Raiders over the governors.

At Lanakila District Park

Aiyana Aipia and Kasey Capillan. Precious Peters and Lehualani Newo.

W—Aipia. L—Peters.

Leading hitters—Kah: Capillan 2-2; Paige Kauhi 5-5, HR, 3b, 6 RBIs; U. Lealao 4-4, 3 RBIs; Kiana Humphreys 2-4, HR; T. Meredith 2-3, 2b, 2 RBIs; T. Correa 2-2, 3 RBIs; Keliikaapuni Kanoa 3-3, 4 RBIs; Aipia 4-4, 4 RBIs. Farr: Newo 2-3; Jazmene Johnson 2-2.