Mid-Pacific head coach Dunn Muramaru knows his Owls got away with one and he actually feels bad for his colleague in the other dugout, Saint Louis’ George Gusman.

The sun was on its way down in right field at Goeas Field with the score tied in the top of the ninth, when top-ranked Mid-Pacific rallied for three runs for what turned out to be a 4-1 victory. When the final batter came up in the top half inning, the sun was less than 5 degrees high in the sky and it was getting dark. The home-plate umpire did not call the game before the bottom of the ninth, although some fans at the field said they’ve seen games that were called due to darkness in lighter conditions.

“Our first batter (Taylor Meilleur, in the bottom of the ninth) said, ‘Mr. umpire, I can’t see the ball,’ ” Gusman said. “He asked him twice. He (the umpire) controls everything. It was very unfortunate. It was just too dark. He just said, ‘Play ball.’ It’s discouraging but it is what it is.”

Had the game been called in the middle of the inning, the score would have reverted back to a 1-1 tie and the finish would have been postponed to another day. But the umpire used discretion, in deciding, apparently, that it would be better to finish it up than to take three runs away from Mid-Pacific (8-3). The game ended at 6:40 p.m.; officially, sunset was 6:45.

The fourth-ranked Crusaders (7-4) stranded 14 runners in all, but showed some chutzpah by tying it up 1-1 in the bottom of the seventh, courtesy of two Owls errors. They couldn’t pull it out, though, with three runners on and one out, due to a head’s up force out at home by winning pitcher Chase Wago, followed by a called third strike on the outside corner to Saint Louis’ DJ Stephens.

“We should have lost that game when we made two errors and they had the bases loaded,” Muramaru said. “The boys still got the job done somehow. We were lucky.”

Muramaru didn’t wait long to talk over the darkness issue with Gusman. He told reporters that he didn’t want to win like that in the dark, but understood the umpire’s predicament.

Meilleur, despite telling the umpire he couldn’t see, led off with a double and was on third when the final out was made, a strikeout by reliever Wyatt Young, who earned the save.

“It’s been a common theme,” Gusman said. “We’re trying our best to drive guys in. The guys are trying hard, maybe they’re trying too hard. It’s just one game and we’ll be back to practice the next two days to work on it. Fourteen guys left on base; we just gotta get better.”

Shortstop Jacob Maekawa had a colossal game for Mid-Pacific. In the fourth, he saved a run by sprinting deep into left field to make an over-the-shoulder catch of a Hunter Guarco pop up. Maekawa, who scored the team’s first run, drove in the eventual winning run in the ninth. Hunter Hill started that three-run rally with a triple to right-center. Maekawa crossed the plate on Saint Louis’ only error and, later, Ryne Yamashiro hit an RBI single.

“The left-fielder was playing pretty deep and I knew I had to get out there,” Maekawa said about the catch.

Earlier, in the second inning, Owls third baseman Trevin Tengan made a huge play, diving to his left for a sharp grounder and throwing to first for the third out to strand three Saint Louis runners.

The Crusaders picked off two runners from the basepaths in the ninth. Muramaru gave the green light for the runners to steal, ostensibly to get the half inning over before it got darker.

Dawson Yamaguchi, Saint Louis’ third of five pitchers, took the loss. Teammate Royce Hirayama, another reliever, didn’t allow a run in his 41⁄3 innings.

“It was a great team effort,” Hirayama said. “We all played really tough and ended up with nothing to show for it.”

Wago pitched 51⁄3 innings in relief of Ethan Fujikami, who left the game in the third with a 1-0 lead.

Stephens, the Saint Louis right fielder, made a fabulous shoestring catch in the second to save a run. Later, he added two running catches and nearly made another stunning diving catch in the seventh, but the ball popped out of his glove.

ILH DIVISION I BASEBALL

No. 1 Mid-Pacific 4,No. 4 Saint Louis 1, 9 inn.

Ethan Fujikami, Chase Wago (3), Wyatt Young (9) and Kyle Layugan. Dylan Spain, Royce Hirayama (3), Dawson Yamaguchi (8), Jordan Rapoza (9), Dylan Lum (9) and Taylor Meilleur.

W–Wago. L–Yamaguchi. S-Young.

Leading hitters–MPI: Jacob Maekawa 2B, RBI; Alex Oley 2-5; Wago RBI; Ryne Yamashiro 2-5, RBI; Jarrod Infante 2B; Layugan 2B; Hunter Hill 3B. StL: Meilleur 2-5, 2B.

ILH DIVISION II BASEBALL

Pac-Five 7, Hanalani 3

Matt Matsuda went 2-for-4 as the Wolfpack defeated the Royals.

Brett Watanabe earned the win for Pac-Five, and allowed three hits in seven innings.

Chad Wakabayashi, Aaron Leong (5) and Reyn Romero. Brett Watanabe and Jared Miyasato.

W–Watanabe. L–Wakabayashi.

Leading hitters–Hana: Matt Tsutsui 2B, RBI. P5: Matt Matsuda 2-4, 2 runs.

St. Francis 13, Damien 0, 5 inn.

Jared Yara and Kaimanuwai Akana combined for a five-inning no hitter as the Saints blanked the Monarchs.

Jacob Poole led St. Francis with three hits and a double.

Chayne Wayton, Dylan Tapat (1), Kaysen Kajiwara (1), Javin Cortez (2) and Milton Gainey, Kai Cazinha (2). Jared Yara, Kaimanuwai Akana (4) and Jacob Poole.

W–Yara. L–Wayton.

Leading hitters–StF: Poole 3-4, 2B, run; Yara 2 runs; Shawn Ellis 2-2, 2 RBI, 2 runs; Ian Phillips 2-3, 4 RBI, run; Zach Alcos 2 RBI, run; JP Tilley 2 runs.

OIA DIVISION I EAST BASEBALL

No. 5 Kalani 13, Kaimuki 3, 6 inn.

Travis Toyama had two hits and drove in two runs as the Falcons stayed unbeaten in league play with a mercy-rule victory over the visiting Bulldogs.

Kamahao Keoho, Andrew Neves (3), Reymundo Gomez (4) and Erick Chen. Micah Kawano, Devin Omura (3), Harrison Moy (3), Duke Fujii (5) and Bronson Matsumoto, Brandon Higashionna (3), Chad Kagawa (5).

W–Fujii. L–Keoho.

Leading hitters–Kaim: Austin Inouye 2-3, RBI; Keoho 2B, run. Kaln: Travis Toyama 2-4, 2B, 2 RBI, 2 runs; Jarryn Wee 2 runs; Kohl Suehiro 2 runs; Noah Nakamura 2-2, 3B, RBI, run; Marquis Morgan 2B, run; Jordon Torricer 2B, run.

Kailua 5, Moanalua 3

Joey Cantillo racked up 12 strikeouts as the Surfriders edged Na Menehune. Kailua’s Dalton Kalama had three hits, two of which were doubles.

Randy Tabura, Skyler Yamamoto (5) and Kekaulike Kalua. Joey Cantillo and Dalton Kalama.

W–Cantillo. L–Tabura.

Leading hitters–Moan: Ryne Oshiro 2B, 2 RBI, run. Kail: Kalama 3-3, 2 2B, RBI, run; Dustin Imanaka 2 runs; Noah Auld 2 RBI; Kalei Kealoha Machado 2-2, run; Cantillo 2B, RBI.

Kaiser 5, Castle 1

Kamalu Simeona pitched a complete game and struck out eight as the Cougars defeated the Knights.

Kamalu Simeona and Emmett Covello. Jordan Harvest, Inoa Robello (4) and Jabe Kahawaii.

W–Simeona. L–Harvest.

Leading hitters–Kais: Covello 2-4, 2B, 3 RBI; Keoki Torres 2-3. Cast: Harvest 1-4, run; Robello 1-4, RBI.

OIA DIVISION I WEST BASEBALL

No. 2 Pearl City 8, Campbell 2

The Chargers used a five-run first inning to remain unbeaten in league play with the victory over the Sabers.

Dylan Florentin, Jamin Kalaola (1), Markus Ramos (7) and Bronson Burr. Trenton Darley, Cade Halemanu (7) and Kaleb Nishijo.

W–Darley. L–Florentin.

Leading hitters–Camp: Shane Shimizu 3-4, run; Todd Takahana 2-4, 2B. PC: Matt Yokota 3-4, run, RBI; Sam Prentice 2-4, 2B, run, RBI; Colby Hirano 2B, 2 runs; Treston Nakamua 3B, run; Nishijo 1-3, 2 RBI.

No. 6 Mililani 10, Waipahu 3

CJ Ibara and Rico Sallas each had two hits as the Trojans beat the Marauders.

Kobie Russell, Blaszen Ferreira (5) and Cole Phillips. Koa Eastlack, Shane Griffin (6), Tyler Kaneshiro (7) and Hunter Kirihara, Thomas Nakatsukasa (6).

W–Eastlack. L–Russell.

Leading hitters–Waip: Russell 2-4, run, RBI. Mil: CJ Ibara 2-3, run, RBI; Rico Sallas 2-4, 2 runs; Kaimana Souza-Paaluhi 2B, 2 runs, RBI; Ryan Kono 2B, 2 runs.

Waianae 3, Aiea 1

Tavita Lalau allowed just one run in seven innings to lead the Seariders over Na Alii.

Waianae’s Ejay Kuakini led the offense with two hits and an RBI.

Colby Narciso, Bronson Nekomoto (5) and Jarred Uyeda. Tavita Lalau and Ejay Kuakini.

W–Lalau. L–Narciso.

Leading hitters–Aiea: Uyeda 2-4; Jake Nakamoto 2-3. Wain: Kuakini 2-3, RBI.

OIA DIVISION II BASEBALL

Farrington 5, Radford 4

The Governors held off a late Rams rally to record the league win.

Tjader De Alba and Dominic Albalos. Kody Leiu, Bishop Rapoza (7) and Brett Walden.

W–Leiu. L–De Alba. S-Rapoza.

Leading hitters–Rad: Quintin Iritarte 3B. Farr: Austin Riley-Echiberi 2-4; Leiu 3-3, 2 runs; Chasen Castilliano 2-4; Jace Baguio 3-3.

Kapolei 8, Kalaheo 0

Cobey Fujii drove in two runs as the Hurricanes remained unbeaten in league play with a shutout victory over the Mustangs.

Tennison Cantrell, Gabriel Guebara (4), Curtis Chung Jr. (6) and Curtis Chung Jr., Tennison Cantrell (5). Ty-Noah Williams, Andrei Stoyanow (7) and Mykah Kuratani.

W–Williams. L–Cantrell.

Leading hitters–Kapo: Cobey Fujii 2-2, 2 RBI, 2 runs; Adam Berg 3B; Joe Uesato 3B; Evan Nakamura HR, RBI, run.

Waialua 14, McKinley 0, 5 inn.

Kyven Dicion and Royce Tashiro homered as the Bulldogs shut out the Tigers.

Waialua’s Mila Lele earned the win on the mound.

Cameron Fernandez, Noah Diaz (3), Elijah Vincent (4) and Royden Espiritu. Mila Lele and Matthan Hatchie.

W–Lele. L–Fernandez.

Leading hitters–McK: Fernandez 2-3. Wail: Kyven Dicion 2-3, 2B, HR; Austin Ramos-Ladia 3-4; Royce Tashiro 3-4, HR; Hatchie 3B.

Kahuku 9, Nanakuli 8

Stats not reported.

BIIF BASEBALL

Kamehameha-Hawaii 26, Pahoa 0, 5 inn.

ILH SOFTBALL

No. 2 Kamehameha 4, Pac-Five 4

The Warriors and Wolfpack battled for the first tie in conference play.

Kamehameha’s Mahina Sauer led the team with three hits, all doubles. Camryn Okada went 2-for-4 at bat for Pac-Five.

Mahina Sauer, Luana Low (6), Sauer (7) and Kalei Kaneshiro. Kiara Peterson and Shazzareigh Nakoa-Chung.

Leading hitters–KS: Jordan Millwood 2-3, 2B, RBI; Dallas Millwood 2 RBI; Sauer 3-4, 3 2B. P5: Camryn Okada 2-4.

No. 7 ‘Iolani 5, No. 4 Maryknoll 2

The Raiders scored three runs to break a two-all tie in the sixth inning to beat the Spartans.

Aleia Agbayani, Marley Dyer (7) and Cassie Ho. Maia McNicholl, Kamryn Kamakaiwi (6) and Nohea Hee.

W–Agbayani. L–McNicholl. S-Dyer.

Leading hitters–Iol: Spencer Oda 3-4, 3B, run, RBI; Cassie Ho 2-4; Leila Anoina 2B; Kenedi Lopes 2B, RBI. Mryk: Logan Carlos 2-3, 2B, run; Mylee Enos 1-2, 2 RBI; Kanoe Tanigawa 2B.

No. 10 Punahou 11, Sacred Hearts 1, 6 inn.

Bailey Akimseu struck out eight batters to lead the Buffanblu past the Lancers in six innings. Akimseu and Heaven Wong each homered, got two hits and drove in three runs for Punahou.

Kaua Huihui-Awa and Divine Victorino. Bailey Akimseu and Janelle Sato.

W–Akimseu. L–Huihui-Awa.

Leading hitters–Pun: Kennedy Ishii 2B, 2 RBI, run; Heaven Wong 2-2, HR, 3 RBI, 2 runs; Kara Tsuruda 2 runs; Kawailana Mielke 2 RBI, run; Akimseu 2-3, HR, 3 RBIs, run.

Mid-Pacific 12, St. Francis 8

Skylar Tanaka homered for the fourth straight game and drove in five runs as the Owls defeated the Saints.

The game was called after two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning due to darkness.

Caryn Chinen and Taiana Creekmur. Michaela Fonoti, Jaeda Cabunoc (3) and Lia Nakamoto.

W–Cabunoc. L–Chinen.

Leading hitters–StF: Sammie Ofoia 2-4, 2B, RBI; Skye Ah Yat 3-3, 3 RBI. MPI: Breeze-Lyn Morita 3 runs; Skylar Tanaka 4-4, 2B, HR, 5 RBI; Beyli Correa 3-3, 2B, 3 runs; McKenna Silva 3-4, 2 runs, 2 RBI; Ka’alea Hanawahine 2B.