Trey Saito keeps killing ’em softly.

The Mid-Pacific senior hurled six shutout innings as the top-ranked Owls stifled No. 5 Punahou 4-0 Saturday at Damon Field.

Mid-Pacific improved to 4-0 in ILH play, overcoming a slew of top-10 teams. Saito, a right-hander, is 2-0 after another spotless effort. He fanned three and walked just one while scattering three hits. Submarining righty Deric Valoroso Jr. allowed one hit in the seventh to finish the contest off.

Mixing a fastball, slider, change-up and curve, Saito threw just 72 pitches, the same number he posted in a shutout of ‘Iolani eight days earlier. Again, the Owls played error-free defense.

"Today, our defense was a big key and our offense produced for us. That worked for me," said Saito, who relied much less on his changeup this time out. "Punahou is really aggressive and they hit the ball solid. I had to get it over and let my defense work. They really helped me out today."

Owls pitching coach Craig Hayashi kept his pregame chat with Saito basic.

"It’s real simple. He goes out and he’s ready to mix it up, throw strikes. He’s a senior. He knows what to do," Hayashi said. "He just tried to throw harder stuff, away from hitters. The wind was blowing in from center, so he kept it out away from the plate."

Punahou pitching coach Matt Apana, who finished the game at the helm after Kenny Harrison was ejected, gave Saito credit.

"He changed speeds and threw quality strikes. He kept us off balance," said Apana, a former UH pitcher. "Any time you have command and stay ahead in the count, you get good results."

Another efficient performance by MPI — this was the fourth shutout in as many ILH games — had the visiting Buffanblu off their game. Harrison was ejected in the top of the sixth inning after questioning balls and strikes. With Ryne Saiki at the plate, a curveball by reliever Thomas Morris was called a ball, which led Harrison to ask from the dugout, "Where was that?"

The umpire stopped the game, took a few steps toward the Punahou dugout and warned the Buffanblu coach to stop. But after the umpire returned to the plate, Harrison said, "Do what you gotta do."

That was enough for the man in blue to heave Harrison, leaving Apana in charge. Harrison might have to serve a one-game suspension, which means he could sit when Punahou plays Saint Louis on Friday.

"It’s unfortunate," Apana said. "You get new crews of umpires, some different guys here, but an umpire is an umpire. Our pitcher made a good pitch. We’re frustrated and just asking, ‘Where was the pitch?’ "