SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. — Keelen Obedoza hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the fifth inning to break a tie and pitched a perfect sixth to lead Waipi'o to a 6-4 come-from-behind victory over Rapid City, S.D., yesterday at the Little League World Series.

"I was pretty excited to hit a homer," Obedoza said. "It has been a while since I hit like that."

Undefeated Hawai'i (3-0) is guaranteed a spot in the U.S. semifinals tomorrow.

Waipi'o will face the No. 2 team from Pool A at 2 p.m., Hawai'i time. The game will be televised on ESPN.

South Dakota's Cale Fierro tied the game at 4 in the top of the fifth with a homer. Waipi'o went back ahead in the bottom of the inning after Kainoa Fong singled and Obedoza homered to center.

Obedoza then retired the side in order in the bottom of the sixth on nine pitches to earn the save. With a spot in the semifinals already wrapped up, Waipi'o used seven pitchers in the game.

"We tried to save our pitching since we had nothing to lose," Waipi'o coach Timo Donahue said. "We faced the same type of situation in regionals, so we were prepared for this."

South Dakota (0-3) went winless in the first appearance for a team from the state at the World Series.

Faced with elimination, the boys from Mill Creek, Wash., and Tampa, Fla., turned to the long ball to stay alive in the Little League World Series.

For Washington, four players hit homers — including two from left-handed slugger Alec Kisena — in a 16-hit attack that overpowered Hagerstown, Md., 15-5.

The nightcap featured an elimination game between Tampa, Fla., and Shelton, Conn., and Florida rallied late for an 8-2 win in seven innings to advance to the U.S. semifinals.

Matamoros, Mexico, hit four homers in a 10-0 shutout of Yona, Guam; and Willemstad, Curacao, smacked four home runs in a 14-1 win over Emilia, Italy.