Kaiser players celebrate at home plate after a three-run blast hit in the third inning against Keaau. Greg Yamamoto | SL

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05121539_Kai16_Homerun_jube_8467.jpg - Greg Yamamoto | SL

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MANOA - Kayla Russell drove in four runs and hit her first home run of the season and No. 5 Kaiser dropped Keaau, 9-1, Tuesday night in the opening round of the DataHouse Division I state softball tournament at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.

The Cougars (15-1) advance to the quarterfinals against No. 1 and second-seeded Kamehameha (12-1-1), 7 p.m. Wednesday.

Russell's three-run home run over the left field fence sparked a five-run third inning for the Oahu Interscholastic Association Cougars, who are in their first state tournament since 1997 and have not advanced to the semifinals since 1988.

"It's just an incredible feeling," said Russell, Kaiser's sophomore right fielder. "I'm just so happy, but I couldn't have done with without the support of my family and teammates. It's so incredible. This is my first one…This is what you want to do when you come to states, just show your all."

The Big Island Interscholastic Federation Cougars (9-6) made their first tournament appearance since 2012, when they lost a play-in game to Moanalua.

Seli Aholelei allowed an unearned run in four innings, allowing a hit with 10 strikeouts to get credit for the win. Crystal Ching-Lake added three innings of hitless relief with five strikeouts to notch the save.

Kilohi Kamakea-Wong allowed nine runs, but only four earned, in six innings in take the loss for Keaau.

Kaiser took a 1-0 lead in the first when Aholelei led off with a single and took third when the left fielder misplayed the ball. Aholelei scored on Elyse Tsutui's flare single to center.

Kaiser then sent nine batters to the played in a five-run third that included an RBI double by Tiana Ching-Lake and Russell's homer.

Keaau scored in the fourth when Erleen Oguma walked with one out, stole second and third before Tiana Kapumau struck out and scored on a throwing error by Aholelei, who then struck out her 10th batter to end the inning.

Kaiser added a run in the fifth on Russell's RBI single and two more in the sixth on a solo homer to center by Aholelei and later on a run-scoring single by Ching-Lake.

The OIA Cougars have formidable opponent coming up in Interscholastic League of Honolulu champion Kamehameha, the second seed of the tournament.

"They're really tough," Russell said of the Warriors. "But after winning this game I think we have a boost of confidence and we'll come to hard. Win or lose, just give it your best."