Fifth-ranked Baldwin pulls away late from upset-minded Kekaulike

Brian Bautista | SL

Baldwin trailed Kekaulike for much of the contest, but broke through in the fifth and pulled away in the seventh, en route to a 7-2 win.

The seven runs of scoring marked the lowest output of the season for the fifth ranked Bears, and only the second time the team has failed to reach double digits all season.

Trailing 2-1 heading into the top of the fifth, Baldwin got started with a one-out single by Briana Maio-Silva, and saw runners eventually end up on second and third on a fielder's choice on the next batter and an error on the following, putting runners at second and third.

A sacrifice fly by Khalil Higa allowed Maio-Silva to come in to tie the game and Baldwin took the lead on the next at-bat as Kyra Pinheiro hit a pinch hit single to score Shaileah Brown with the go-ahead run.

Then in the top of the seventh, the Bears parlayed three singles and a double to plate four big insurance runs, putting the game all but out of reach.

Hope Batulayan-Cadorna allowed just two runs on six hits, striking out four and walking one. Both runs were scored in the second inning, where Na Alii got an RBI double by Hulali Willams to score one run and a single by Aki Tamayose that brought in the other.

Baldwin can finish up its MIL slate without a blemish with a win on the road against Lahainaluna on Wed, Apr. 23.