Shearyna Labasan scattered six hits as No. 4 Maryknoll rallied past No. 7 Mid-Pacific 5-1 on Wednesday afternoon at sunny Sand Island State Park.

The Lady Spartans improved to 6-1-1 in ILH play. They remained in second place behind front-running Kamehameha. MPI slipped to 4-4 despite a solid effort by pitcher Kaili-Ann Akimseu. The senior did not allow an earned run; all five of Maryknoll’s runs were the direct result of two Owls errors, both with two outs in the third and fourth innings. 

"There’s some years when you make a mistake and it doesn’t hurt you," Maryknoll coach John Uekawa said. "And some years when it does." 

Defense is what the Lady Spartans worked diligently at all week.

"Every game up to now, Shearyna did 51 percent of the work. Today, she only had six strikeouts and our infield had 12 putouts," Uekawa said. "I told them, the team that works hardest would win." 

Each team had a multitude of opportunities, but stranded nine runners apiece.

"I knew it wasn’t going to be that much of a scoring difference this time," Labasan said, referring to an 18-2 win over MPI on March 16. "Mid-Pacific is a good hitting team. If you give them a little, they’ll take a mile." 

The visiting Owls took a 1-0 lead in the top of the third inning. McKenna Silva singled to center with one out and later came home on a two-out single to center by Marissa Allen. Labasan, who finished with six strikeouts and four walks, fanned Akimseu to end the inning. 

Akimseu, who allowed all 18 runs in the previous loss to Maryknoll, was in a groove this time — until the bottom of the third. Maryknoll loaded the bases on singles by Shayna Ige and Bree Soma, and a walk by Mylee Enos. With two outs, Kanoe Tanigawa sent a high fly ball to the right-field corner, where Silva got under the ball. The ball popped out of the palm of her glove, permitting Ige and Soma to score the tying and go-ahead runs.

Sophomore Tamia Hirano, who had struck out earlier on a called-inside breaking ball, lined the first pitch from Akimseu to right field for a single, scoring Enos and Tanigawa for a 4-1 Lady Spartans lead. 

"I just looked for a ball to hit. I wanted to go opposite field. The ball came inside again," said Hirano, who finished 2-for-3 in the game. 

The Spartans tacked on a single run in the fourth after Labasan socked a two-out double to right, then scored when MPI second baseman Kamaile Hanawahine’s throw to first on a grounder by Soma pulled the first baseman, Treana Garcia-Perreira, off the ball. Labasan never let up, going full speed until she crossed home plate, beating Garcia-Perreira’s throw home for a 5-1 lead. 

From there, Labasan was resilient against a dangerous Owls lineup. MPI got a runner on base in every inning, and Maryknoll’s ace was especially careful with Owls slugger Nicole Lopez, who was 0-for-1 with three walks. 

"Nicole is one the best batters around. We tried not to give her anything, mix it up. We tried to stay on the outside corner on all their batters. It seemed to work, so we stayed there all game," Labasan said. 

Akimseu scattered 10 hits, striking out two with three walks. 

"Our pitcher pitched a good game. All five runs were unearned," Owls coach Alan Inaba said. "If we make routine plays, we’re up 1-0." 

The difference in Akimseu since that Maryknoll rout more than two weeks ago is health. The senior battled through a sore arm in preseason, and the first matchup with Maryknoll was just her second outing. She used a riser with effectiveness on Wednesday. 

"I’ve been going to get my arm massaged out. I go once every four games," Akimseu said. 

At 4-4 in the ILH, Inaba would like to see his team gain momentum. 

"Basically, we’re going to work to get better for the playoffs. It’s highly unlikely Kamehameha and Punahou are going to lose three or four games," he said. 

Akimseu is optimistic. 

"This is a good ease into the second round," she said. "We’re building some confidence." 

Uekawa and his team saw a very loose, yet focused team across the way.

"They came in so relaxed. I was scared," Uekawa said. "Coach Alan is a good coach with a different perspective." 

Kaili-Ann Akimseu and Lia Nakamoto. Shearyna Labasan and Nohea Hee. W–Labasan. L–Akimseu. 

Leading hitters–MPI: Marissa Allen 1-4, RBI; McKenna Silva 1-3, run. Maryknoll: Bree Soma 3-4, run; Labasan 1-4, 2B, run; Tamia Hirano 2-3, 2 RBIs, SB; Shayna Ige 2-3, 2B, run. 

No. 2 Kamehameha 13, Pac-Five 3, 5 inn.

Makana Cyrell homered and drove in four runs and Rachel Ogasawara went 4-for-4 as the Warriors defeated the Wolf Pack to remain unbeaten in league play.

Megan Yoshioka, Kiara Peterson (4), Khaliah Kahoano (5) and Alisha Candelario. Chris Hipa and Rachel Ogasawara. W–Hipa. L–Yoshioka.

Leading hitters–Pac-Five: Shazzareigh Nakoa-Chun HR. Kamehameha: Katelyn Mahelona 2-4; Ogasawara 4-4, 2b; Hipa 2-3; Kalei Kaneshiro HR; Jordan Milwood 2-3, 2b; Lia Tom 2-3; Makana Cyrell 2-3, HR, 4 RBIs.

No. 5 Punahou 6, Sacred Hearts 1

Nicole Nishizawa pitched a four-hitter with 11 strikeouts and Bailey Akimseu drove in two runs as the Buffanblu beat the Lancers.

Kaua Huihui-Awa and Devine Victorino. Nicole Nishizawa and Janell Sato. W–Nishizawa. L–Huihui-Awa.

Leading hitters–Sacred Hearts: Huihui-Awa 2b. Punahou: Jessica Shimoda 2-3; Bailey Akimseu 2b, 2 RBIs. 

‘Iolani 10, St. Francis 9

Macy Uyehara batted 2-for-4 with a triple and three runs and Alyssa Espiritu and Kawai Scanlan each drove in two runs as the Raiders beat the Saints.

St. Francis’ Shaye Simms and Korrie Matsumura each had two RBIs.

Tiare Guerrero, Shaye Simms (4), Caryn Chinen (6) and Taiana Creekmur. Kennedi Lopes, Alyssa Espiritu (3) and Cassie Ho.

W–Lopes. L–Simms.

Leading hitters–St. Francis: Danielle Antolin 2-4; Simms 2-3, 2 RBIs; Korrie Matsumura 2-4, 2 RBIs; Sammie Ofoia 2-4, 2 runs. ‘Iolani: Leila Anoina 2-3, 2 runs; Macy Uyehara 2-4, 3b, 3 runs; Espiritu 2-4, 2 RBIs; Ho 2b; M Ikeda 2b; Kawai Scanlan 2b, 2 RBIs.