---

Down by two runs in the waning innings of a critical road game, Pac-Five needed to find a spark to get things going.

And senior shortstop Quirena Natividad would deliver.

The Wolfpack team captain would laser a bases-clearing shot down the third base line to ignite a five-run barrage in the top of the sixth to take the lead, and Pac-Five would hold off rally-minded Sacred Hearts in the bottom of the seventh to win, 9-7.

Both teams would exchange pair of runs in the opening inning, and would remain tied at 2-2 until the top of the fourth, when Pac-Five would plate another pair of runners on a clutch, two-out double by Natividad to give the Wolfpack a 4-2 advantage.

Sacred Hearts would go hitless in the bottom of the fourth, but would capitalize on five walks, a wild pitch and a error to take a 6-4 lead.

Following an up-and-down fifth for both teams, it would be Natividad, who had already made some big contributions with the bat, that would be called upon to catalyze Pac-Five's comeback as a vocal leader.

"I asked her (Natividad) to talk to the team and fire them up, and evidently it did." said head coach Cecil Hasegawa.

And the tactic seemed to pay dividends in the sixth, as Sara Holden, the number seven hitter in the order, would lead off the inning with a single to center and Courtney Kipi would follow with a bloop a single over the shortstop to put runners at first and second. Paige Salave'a's infield single would load the bases, and bring up the top of the order with no outs.

rn"The bottom of our lineup did their job and they stepped up." said Natividad.

Also stepping it up was fellow senior Kylee Yamamoto, who ripped a shot, also down the third base line, then motored around the bases for a solo home run to stretch the lead to 9-6.

"(Once I made contact) I kind of realized it (could be a home run) because I played here before... I've actually hit a home run in that same spot, so I kind of knew already that I had a shot at making it around the bases... so I kind of had two sprint my heart out." said Yamamoto of her homer.

The Lancers would make things interesting in the bottom of the seventh, as Nicole Daoang would lead off with a single down the third base line, and Michelle Uchida would reach first on a throwing error, with Daoang moving over to second.

Jamie Tang would reach first when a throw to third pulled the fielder off the bag, loading the bases, and Daoang would come home on a fielder's choice to bring Sacred Hearts to within 2 runs, with runners at second and third.

But on the next batter, reliever Kaleihiwa Ah New would induce a fly ball to center field, and Yamamoto would make a nice sliding grab to end it.

"For us this win is really important because it was a comeback win... now for rest of the second round we know in our hearts we can play this game... we have the potential to keep up with anyone." added Yamamoto.

Natividad would lead the way for the Wolfpack with a 3-for-4 performance at the plate, with a double, a triple and five runs batted in.

Jordyn Waracka would lead Sacred Hearts, batting 2-for-3 with an RBI.