Kaua'i's Jessica Iwata is so feared at the plate, she hadn't seen many pitches to hit during the Kaua'i Interscholastic Federation season.

She got some strikes yesterday against Kalaheo and made the Mustangs pay.

Iwata batted 3 for 4 with two doubles, a homer and six RBIs as Kaua'i beat Kalaheo, 13-8, in the quarterfinals of the DataHouse/HHSAA Softball Division II State Championships at Central O'ahu Regional Park.

"I was kind of worried she didn't have the at-bats in the second half," said Kaua'i coach Darrell Borrero. "Both teams in the KIF intentionally walked her the whole second half of the year, not giving her a chance to hit. The trooper she is, all she needed was somebody to pitch to her and she's going to hit the ball."

Kaua'i, the KIF champion and No. 1 seed, will play Kaiser in the semifinals today at 1 p.m. at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.

Kaua'i trailed 5-3 after four innings against Kalaheo, but erupted for four runs in the fifth and six in the fifth.

"It took a little while to wake up our bats, but once someone starts it up it's usually OK," said Iwata, a senior shortstop.

Iwata, the clean-up hitter, tied it at 5-all in the fifth with a two-run double to right-center, which landed at the base of the orange fence.

"It took a while to get some pitches thrown to me," said Iwata, whose lone out was a liner to left. "The people on Kaua'i know me, so they don't pitch to me."

Jori Jasper put the Red Raiders ahead with an RBI double, and Melia Aki had a run-scoring single.

In the sixth, Shereen Doi scored on an error, Iwata had a two-run double to right-center, Jasper hit a run-scoring single and Aki belted a two-homer to left-center.

Aki, a sophomore third baseman, made her first start since the first game of the season.

"She just waited for her chance to get on the field and she made the best of her opportunity," Borrero said.

Kaua'i (12-1) had five hits and benefitted from four errors in the inning.

"I knew our bats would come alive sooner or later," Borrero said. "I knew we would pull through. We have a strong lineup 1 through 9."

Kaua'i scored two runs in the top of the first after the first two batters struck out. Wailana Borrero singled and advanced to second on a fielding error by the left fielder. Iwata followed with a two-run homer to left-center.

Kalaheo, the O'ahu Interscholastic Association's No. 3 team, had a three-run third to take the lead.

Kahale Ka'anoi led off with a single to shortstop and scored on Caira Pires' double down the left-field line. Pires reached third on an errant throw from the outfield.

Jerica Olson followed with a bunt back to the mound and Wailana Borrero threw too late to third in an attempt to back door Pires. Olson stole second on the first pitch to Theresa Capllouch, who singled to right on a 1-1 pitch to drive in two runs.

Kaua'i tied it at 3-3 in the fourth when Jasper scored on a fielder's choice by Aki and a throwing error by the first baseman.

Kalaheo (10-7) took a 5-3 lead with two runs in the bottom half of the inning.

Kalaheo's Pires finished 4 for 4 with a double, homer and four RBIs, and Ka'anoi went 3 for 4 with a triple and three runs scored.

Reach Kyle Sakamoto at ksakamoto@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8041.

KAUA'I (12-1) 200 146 0 — 13 13 3

KALAHEO (10-7) 003 203 0 — 8 10 6

Wailana Borrero and Carly Matsumoto. Sarah Velasco Fitzherbert and Jerica Olson. W — Borrero. L — Velasco Fitzherbert.

Leading hitters—Kaua'i: Alyssa Carvalho 2 runs; Naja Pungan double; Borrero 2 runs; Jessica Iwata 3-4, 2 doubles, homer, 6 RBIs; Jori Jasper 3-3, double, 2 runs, 2 RBIs; Melia Aki 2-4, homer, 3 RBIs. Kalaheo: Velasco Fitzherbert 2 runs; Kahale Ka'anoi 3-4, triple, 3 runs; Caira Pires 4-4, double, homer, 2 runs, 4 RBIs; Theresa Capllonch 2 RBIs.

KAISER 11, MOLOKA'I 0

Kayla Alcoran pitched a five-inning no-hitter with three strikeouts and one walk to lead the Cougars.

The game was called after five innings because of the tournament's mercy rule. Chelsy Okuma went 4 for 4, including two doubles and two RBIs. Chelsea Lima was 3 for 3, including a double and four RBIs for the Cougars.

KAISER (14-1-1) 035 12—11 14 0

MOLOKA'I (8-4) 000 00— 0 0 1

Kayla Alcoran and Chelsy Okuma. Jasmine Borden and Korie-Lee Dudoit-Englis. W — Alcoran. L — Borden.

Leading hitters — Kaiser: Alcoran 2-4; Krysta Yasui 2-4; Okuma 4-4, 2 doubles, 3 runs, 2 RBIs; Caliann Fukuda 2 runs; Chelsea Lima 3-3, double, 2 runs, 4 RBIs; Bailey Miller 2 RBIs.

KS-HAWAI'I 4, WAIMEA 3

Kiani Wong pitched a four-hitter and the Warriors scored three runs in the first to beat the Menehunes.

The Warriors face Waialua in the semifinals at 3 p.m. today at RWSS.

Kayla Costales, Joelle Cabasa and Megan Waiki scored for the Warriors in the first.

The Warriors took a 4-2 lead in the fifth after Cabasa reached third on a bunt single and throwing error by the catcher. After a ground out, Kaala Ahu hit a sacrifice fly to left.

In the seventh, Waimea scored a run on a two-out RBI single by Taylor Ephan, but Wong got a pop out to second with runners at the corners to end it.

WAIMEA (8-6) 101 000 1—3 4 1

KS-HAWAI'I (11-3) 300 010 X—4 8 0

Michelle Koerte and Taylor Ephan. Kiani Wong and Kaala Ahu. W — Wong. L — Koerte.

Leading hitters—Waimea: Tanisha Defabian 2-4. KS-Hawai'i: Joelle Cabasa 3-3, 2 runs; Megan Waiki double; Ahu 2 RBIs.

WAIALUA 6, 'AIEA 0

Marissa Keao pitched a five-hitter with 10 strikeouts to lift the Bulldogs into the semifinals. Keao and Althia Dicion each went 3 for 4.

WAIALUA (12-1-1) 000 210 3—6 8 1

'AIEA (9-6) 000 000 0—0 5 3

Marissa Keao and Alyssiah Hernandez. Rayna Strom-Okimoto and Ashlei Li'ili'i. W — Keao. L — Strom-Okimoto.

Leading hitters — Waialua: Althia Dicion 3-4; Keao 3-4, double. 'Aiea: Strom-Okimoto 2-3, triple; Amberlin Scharsch double.