Maryknoll's Bree Soma heads to third base after a hit ground ball against Punahou. Greg Yamamoto | SL

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Maryknoll's Bri Ryan is tagged out at home by Punahou's Sara Jinee Buck. Greg Yamamoto | SL

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Maryknoll's Shearyna Labasan throws a pitch to the plate against Punahou. Greg Yamamoto | SL

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Maryknoll's Erica Inagaki connects with a pitch against Punahou. Greg Yamamoto | SL

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SAND ISLAND--Maryknoll shut out Punahou, 4-0 to give the Buffanblu their first loss of the season at Sand Island Park on Saturday afternoon. Kamehameha-Kapalama is currently in first at 4-1 in Interscholastic League of Honolulu Division I standings while Punahou, Maryknoll and 'Iolani are in a three-way tie for second place at 3-1. Maryknoll won their third straight game, since dropping their first game against Kamehameha, 3-2 on Mar. 5. 

"Every game we have to be prepared. Because of it, I call it the wild, wild ILH cause you can get smothered in a game and the next game they can come out and beat someone that's formidable, whatever happens from here, we have to be mentally prepared," said Maryknoll coach John Uekawa, on the difficulty of playing in the ILH. 

Senior Erica Inagaki, who played second base today, had 4 RBIs to lead the way for the Lady Spartans. She had a 2RBI double in the bottom of the first inning and a 2RBI single in the bottom of the third. 

"When I went up to bat, I was just focusing on making good, solid contact and not try to overswing, just to trying to make good contact with the ball," said Erica Inagaki. 

"We only have one senior on the team, and she's the senior and leads by example. To open up by having second and third and having that double down right center was everything and that set the tone, they gave us an opportunity and we took advantage of it. She's just solid defensively and just quiet and does her job. She's a first-team all-ILH last year so she's recognized as a good player to begin with," said Uekawa, on Inagaki. 

In the bottom of the first inning, Bree Soma got to second on a double to right field. It appeared right fielder Paige Kawai caught the ball, but the umpire thought she didn't. Shearyna Labasan then hit a fly out to center fielder Amber Popovich. 

Soma advanced to third and Bri Ryan went to second after an error by short stop Krystin Wong. Inagaki brought home Soma and Ryan after a two-RBI double deep to right field to put Maryknoll up, 2-0. 

"That was our goal, to get on the scoreboard early, doing that gave us confidence and we just had to hold them on defense," said Inagaki. 

In the bottom of the third inning, Tamia Hirano got to first on a error by first baseman Jessica Shimoda after she fumbled the ball. Nicole Nishizawa struck out Shearyna Labasan on the next at bat. 

Soma also got on first after she bunted the ball and Hirano moved to second. Hirano then went to third and Soma went to second on Ryan's single bunt. Inagaki came in and hit a 2RBI single between first and second base to score Hirano and Soma to put the Lady Spartans up, 4-0. 

Maryknoll catcher Kasey Magdadaro hit it to third baseman Shelbie "Pua" Fujinaga, who faked it as if she were throw it to third, but instead threw it to catcher Sara Buck who tagged out Ryan at home plate. Mylee Enos hit a pop fly to Nakamoto to end the inning. 

The Lady Spartans held the Buffanblu to three hits for the whole game. 

"I think we played well defensively and we executed when we needed to execute and we just played as a team today," said Inagaki. 

"I think all my pitches were working, when I wanted to throw them they were getting in there and I was worried about keeping them off-balance, that was our main goal today and I think we did that," said Shearyna Labasan, who struck out three batters. 

"After she settled down and she was under control, she throws near strikes and is defensively solid," said Uekawa on Labasan. 

In the top of the sixth, Punahou bunted the ball three consecutive times, but Maryknoll snuff it out. 

"Kasey (Magdadaro) is a really big help, she got all those bunts up there when they bunted. Punahou is a fast team, that was really helpful, she stood like a wall back there and there weren't many passed balls and kept them from advancing on the bases," said Labasan, who credited her catcher. 

Maryknoll ended the game in the top of the seventh on a double play. 

"That double-play was big for us, getting that runner on we needed to hold them to get those last three outs, but the defense was really there for me today and they made all the plays and that's all we needed them to do, they did their job," said Labasan. 

Maryknoll will play Pac-Five at Ala Wai Field on Mar. 17 at 4 pm while Punahou plays 'Iolani on Mar. 19 at the same location. Punahou and Maryknoll will play each other again on Apr. 9 at Punahou at 4 pm. 

"The ILH is very tough, but for us to succeed we just have to keep up what we're doing which is playing as a team and executing when we need to," said Inagaki.