Kamehameha's Kamalani Dung pitched a complete game with nine strikeouts, while going 2 for 2 at the plate in a shutout win over Punahou. Johnny Wilson | Special to SL

View image 1 of 1

---

Kamehameha's Kamalani Dung pitched a complete game with nine strikeouts, while going 2 for 2 at the plate in a shutout win over Punahou. Johnny Wilson | Special to SL

View image 1 of 1

---

KAPALAMA HEIGHTS — Kamehameha got back into the win column and moved into first place atop the Interscholastic League of Honolulu Division I standings behind an all-around performance from Kamalani Dung.

The senior pitcher fired a two-hitter with nine strikeouts to help the Warriors (4-0-1) defeat visiting Punahou, 5-0 on a damp Saturday morning. Dung also picked up an RBI off a double, and was 2 for 2 at the plate.

Kamehameha, the top-ranked team in the ScoringLive/OC16 Softball Power Rankings, was coming off a 6-all tie against Maryknoll on Wednesday.

"After the tie I think we were able to have our eyes open and see a bunch of little things defensively that we needed to fix," said Dung. "We worked over a couple of things at practice and this game is when we got to put it all together."

Fourth-ranked Punahou suffered its first loss of the year, dropping to 4-1 in the standings. Punahou ace Nicole Nishizawa threw eight strikeouts, but gave up a season-high seven hits in five innings of work. 

Kamehameha took an early 2-0 lead after the first inning thanks to timely hits from three-hole hitter Dallas Millwood and Dung. Millwood drove in leadoff hitter Alana Cobb-Adams and Dung brought in designated hitter Mahina Sauer with a double to center field.

Momentum shifted in favor of Punahou during the second after getting two runners in scoring position in the top of the inning. After Dung recorded her third strikeout of the game, Krystin Wong drew a walk and Heaven Wong placed a ball in shallow left field for a hit. Jolie Fujita advanced the two runners over with a sacrifice bunt. However, the Warriors were able to get themselves out of the inning after Jessica Shimoda popped out to shortstop Lia Tom.

Punahou threatened the Warriors again in the third, but was unable to manufacture any runs and left two runners on base.

Kamehameha regained control of the game with a three-run effort in the bottom of the third. Sauer picked up a hit to start of the inning and Christine Hipa advance her after drawing a walk. Dung bunted the two runners over and Jordan Millwood plated Sauer with a shot to left field. Katelyn Mahelona later drove in Hipa and Millwood with her 2 RBI double, to make the score 5-0.

"That's one thing that's really good about my team, that they clutch up when they need to," said Dung. "I have full confidence in them. When we all have confidence in each other — like the way that we do right now — good things happen."

Punahou could not get any offense going over the course of the final four innings and Kamehameha was able to remain unbeaten.

We had opportunities early and we didn't capitalize on them," said Punahou coach Bob Makahilahila. "As the game went along Kama started to get into her groove so it was tougher for us to catch up. I thought they did a great job. They got the breaks on balls that were hit off of gloves and all of that, its just part of the game. They did a terrific job of shutting us down."

Jordan Sanchez also had a hit for Kamehameha. The Warriors also stole three bases; two from Kekai Leanio-Balagat and one by Cobb-Adams. 

Both teams return to the diamond next Wednesday. Punahou will host Mid-Pacific while Kamehameha travels to take on Iolani.