Faced with the challenge of facing perhaps the hottest team in the tournament offensively, the Campbell Sabers delivered, holding Kamehameha to just five hits in a 6-2 victory in the early semifinal of the DataHouse Division I Softball State Championships.

The Warriors had been on fire at the plate, scoring 29 runs on 29 hits through two state tournament games, but were held to just 2 runs on five hits in the semis against the Sabers.

"The defense helped me out a lot... and my pitches were working great tonight." said Palipti. "I just had to listen to coach and whatever he rnwas calling I just threw it."

"We wanted to try and keep the run ratio down and Summer (Palipti) did a heck of a job hitting her spots, making her pitches, letting the defense work." said Campbell head coach Shag Hermosura.

The Campbell offense would do their part to support Palipti, jumping ahead from the get-go with singles by Tiana Rosario and Kawehi Kahana setting the table for Taylor Ho'ohuli, who would smash a three-run shot over the fence in left field to put the Sabers up 3-0.

"That ball that Taylor Ho'ohuli hit gave not only the coaching staff, but our whole team a lot of confidence. And Summer (Palipti) fed off of that... that bomb was a big help to our team." remarked Hermosura.

Nashlynn Anguay would later double to deep left, and would come home on a single past the shortstop by Daylene Antonio to increase the lead to 4..

Campbell would extend to a 5-0 advantage with another run in the fourth, but the Warriors would eventually push two runs across in the top of fifth, scoring off of a fielding error and then plating another run Fahren Glackin's bouncing single over the second baseman that scored Nohea Keaunui-Gould from second.

Finally in the sixth, the Sabers wold get a sacrifice fly to center by Kahana that would bring Jessica Arata home to make the count 6-2.

Next up for Campbell is an appearance in the Division I title game against Mid-Pacific, a 1-0 winner over the Sabers' OIA nemesis Kapolei, set to follow the Division II title game that gets underway at 5:00 p.m.

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