Aiea's Poamai Tuli connects with a pitch against Waialua. Tuli was 2-for-3 from the plate with a home run, 2 runs and 3 RBIs. Michael Lasquero | SL

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Aiea's Poamai Tuli connects with a pitch against Waialua. Tuli was 2-for-3 from the plate with a home run, 2 runs and 3 RBIs. Michael Lasquero | SL

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AIEA — The Aiea softball team have come a long way since a forfeit loss to Nanakuli a month ago.

Na Alii batted around the lineup in the first, third and fifth inning in their 18-3 win over Waialua in the second game of an Oahu Interscholastic Association Division II doubleheader at Aiea Annex Field Saturday afternoon. Aiea also won the early game, 13-1, and improved to 8-2 in league play. Waialua dropped to 4-6. 

The win helped Aiea keep pace with Kalaheo (8-3) for second place with one game remaining in the regular season. The top two teams in the league standings will receive a first round bye in the six-team playoffs and an automatic berth into Division II state tourney.

"It's kind of big for us because every win right now — because we're so close with Kalaheo — makes a difference right now," said Aiea coach Alan Higuchi.

Aiea has now won five straight games — all of which ended in five innings — since its forfeit to defending state champion Nanakuli. The forfeit was a result of players missing practice throughout the week of the contest.

"Since that game I think we've grown a lot because everyone's been coming to practice and we've been working hard, trying to improve ourselves," said sophomore first baseman Poamai Tuli, who went 2 for 3 at the plate with two runs scored and three RBIs.

"That setback just gave us more confidence and more motivation in our goal to take states," added pitcher Vesi Liilii.

Na Alii has also had to deal with the loss of senior utility Raisa Strom-Okimoto to an ACL injury prior to the start of the season. Higuchi credited Tuli and Liilii for stepping up in her absence.

"That was a big loss because she wasn't only our pitcher, she was our starting shortstop and leadoff batter, we lost three players at once," Higuchi said on Strom-Okimoto. "We're very fortunate to have other people step into her shoes and help us make this season successful so far."

Liilii scattered five hits across five innings and tossed seven strikeouts to pick up the win the pitcher's circle. She also was 2 for 3 at the plate with three runs scored and two RBIs.

Aiea jumped out to an early advantage with six runs in the first inning. Tull jumpstarted the offensive surge with a home run to score the first two runs of the game.

"That made a big difference because everyone just started hitting, having confidence in each other and helping everyone out," said Tuli.

The Bulldogs answered back with a two-run triple from Andrea Dicion in the bottom of the first to make the score 6-2.

Na Alii scored six runs in the top of the third to blow the game wide open. Candace Basilio relieved Waialua starting pitcher Danielle Maxwell after four innings and allowed six runs in the fifth inning.

Dicion drove in Kaitlin Ayonon for the final score of the game.

Other key hitters for Na Alii include shortstop Kayla Higuchi (2 for 3, two runs scored, RBI), catcher Kailie Alama (two RBIs and a double) and second baseman Chantel (double, two runs scored, two RBIs).

Aiea will host Farrington to close out the regular season while Waialua will take on Kalani. Both games are slated for next Saturday.