Bulldogs mercy-rule Tigers to remain unbeaten

Waialua freshman Maura Muniz earned her sixth win of the year in the pitching circle while backing herself up with three RBIs at the plate. Mycah Yokotake | Special to SL

WAIALUA — The Bulldogs showed they're not just all bark with no bite after ousting McKinley, 14-4, in five innings Thursday afternoon in an Oahu Interscholastic Association Division II battle at their home field on the North Shore.

Honey Jose-Woods went 3 for 3 at the plate with an inside-the-park home run and three total RBIs that were matched by pitcher Maura Muniz's three-run double in the fourth inning to help Waialua remain unbeaten with a 6-0 record.

The Bulldogs racked up 10 hits on the afternoon, but only six of their 14 runs were counted as earned in part due to defensive miscues from the Tigers.

Jose-Woods got the scoring going in bottom of the first inning with an RBI single to left field to score Muniz from second base after she reached on a walk. On the next at-bat, Jose-Woods' steal attempt to second base prompted a throw down which allowed Aliyah Crowley to score from third to make it 2-0. Jose-Woods later scored after Sophia Manalo's grounder to the second baseman was unable to be fielded cleanly.

The biggest damage came in a seven-run fourth inning that started with Crowley scoring after an overthrow on her steal attempt to third base. Later in the inning after an error with two outs, Quinn Ozoa brought in a run on a single to left field and Muniz singled to center field to clear the bases to make it a 13-2 lead.

McKinley plated two runs in the top of the fifth inning to extend the game on Madison Cristobal's inside-the-park home run to deep center field.

But Waialua closed it out in the bottom frame with Nohea Apuakehau-Smith beating the throw home on pinch hitter Philana Toia's grounder to second base.

Cristobal was charged with the loss in the pitching circle, giving up 10 hits and two walks while striking out four.

Muniz, a freshman, got her sixth win of the season.

The Tigers fell to 5-2 and now sit tied with Nanakuli for second place in the OIA D2.