Mid-Pacific pitcher Kaili-Ann Akimseu allowed four runs on seven hits, but managed to strand 12 base runners in a 10-5 win over Punahou Wednesday afternoon. Greg Yamamoto | SL

---

Mid-Pacific pitcher Kaili-Ann Akimseu allowed four runs on seven hits, but managed to strand 12 base runners in a 10-5 win over Punahou Wednesday afternoon. Greg Yamamoto | SL

---

Kaili-Ann Akimseu has had her share of highs and lows this softball season.

The Mid-Pacific senior pitcher knows all too well the ebb and flow of the rigorous Interscholastic League of Honolulu Division I schedule, but she couldn't help but feel good about her team's 10-5 come-from-behind win over Punahou Wednesday afternoon.

Akimseu threw a complete game and batted 3 for 4 with a double to lead the Owls past the host Buffanblu and into Saturday's ILH postseason tournament final against Maryknoll.

The pitching line for Akimseu — four runs allowed (one unearned) on seven hits with one strikeout and four walks — wasn't dominating by any means, but it was enough to keep Mid-Pacific within striking distance of Punahou.

"It's good to see her game face back on," Owls' coach Alan Inaba said of Akimseu. "We kind of went through some losing streaks and her demeanor just kind of changed today. I guess she realizes that these games are meaning something now."

Akimseu's counterpart Wednesday in Punahou starter Nicole Nishizawa looked to be in total control early on in the game. She set down the first 10 batters she faced until allowing a one-out to Nicole Lopez in the top of the fourth. Two batters later, Akimseu broke up Nishizawa's no-hitter with a double down the right field line.

The Buffanblu tagged Akimseu for a pair of runs in the bottom of the third inning to open the scoring and two more in the fifth on a two-run home run by Nishizawa. Akimseu worked with runners on base for most of the game — only retiring the side in order in the fourth inning — but stranded 12 Punahou base runners. She left the bases loaded with Buffanblu base runners twice, including the bottom of the seventh inning to end the game.

"My team always keeps me up," Akimseu said. "They're always so supportive. My coaches are always behind me, especially my catcher, she's always telling me don't let it get to my head and everyone is just so supportive and they just pick me up real quick."

The Owls' bats finally came to life in the fifth inning, when McKenna Silva singled to score Samantha Sakihara to get them on the board.

"After we scored our first run, I thought, ‘OK, we're right back in the game,' and then (Nishizawa) hit that two-run bomb off of us and our team got a little deflated, but once we got our first two runners on in the sixth inning they kind of felt like this was our game to get," Inaba said.

The first five Mid-Pacific batters reached base safely in the top of the sixth, which was highlighted by Marissa Allen's grand slam. Akimseu, however, figured it wouldn't be enough against the Buffanblu, who had scored 21 runs in two previous games against the Owls this season.

"Every time we were on offense, we just told ourselves that they still have to hit — and they have been hitting and they've been getting on base — so we just had to be ready because they've come back many times and we just needed to be ready for whatever they had," Aklmseu said.

Akimseu and the Owls are hoping to ride this high with a win over Maryknoll Saturday, which would assure them a spot in the state tournament in two weeks.