Tribune-Herald
Tribune-Herald
With one swing, Jeremy Williams halted the Hawaii Stars’ momentum.
Williams hit a go-ahead two-run home run in the seventh inning off Michael Kenui and finished with three RBIs on Saturday night, powering Na Koa Ikaika Maui to a 4-3 victory against the Stars in Wailuku, Maui.
Kenui, a Waiakea High graduate, took the loss in relief of spot starter Devon Ramirez, who pitched five innings in the Pacific Association baseball game.
Trying to win for the fourth time in five nights at Iron Maehara Stadium, Hawaii (5-12) managed just four hits against three Maui pitchers, two by Marshall McDonald.
McDonald led off the second with a double and scored on Dane Sardhina’s single as the Stars struck for two runs in the second to the game 2-2.
The red-hot Katsuaki Furuki, who entered the game 7 of 15 in the series, was held hitless but he drove in a run in the fifth to give Hawaii the lead.
Matt Walker (2-0) pitched three perfect innings with three strikeouts to get the win for Maui (12-5) in relief of starter Josh Larson, who worked five innings. Chris Moebly earned his second save.
Kenui (0-1) allowed two runs and two hits in three innings. Ramirez, who started for the injured Ronnie Loeffler, yielded two runs on three hits and three walks with no strikeouts.
The six-game series wraps at 5:30 p.m. Sunday night.
Hawaii 020 010 000 — 3 4 1
Maui 200 000 20x — 4 5 3