Jasmine Ioane pitched a three-hitter with five strikeouts and no walks and went 2 for 3 with a double yesterday to help Punahou beat Kapolei, 4-0, in the first round of the DataHouse Division I Softball State Championships.

The Interscholastic League of Honolulu runner-up Buffanblu improved to 12-3 in the regular and postseason and will face No. 4 seed and Maui Interscholastic League champ Baldwin (12-1) in today's 3 p.m. quarterfinal at Rainbow Wahine Stadium.

Yesterday's game was Punahou's first state tournament appearance since 2005.

"We were nervous and excited," said Ioane, a senior right-hander. "For all of us, this is the first time feeling this, playing in this tournament at this stadium."

The Buffanblu did not show any visible signs of jitters, jumping to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning after Sarah Hiramatsu had an infield single with one out, advanced to second on a two-base error and scored on Reina Furuya's sacrifice fly to center field.

They made it 2-0 in the third after Ioane hit a one-out double, courtesy runner Nicole Tamura advanced to third on Dori Leong's groundout and scored on a wild pitch.

Punahou added two more runs in the fourth on back-to-back doubles by Furuya and Mysha Sataraka.

That was plenty of support for Ioane, who allowed only one runner past second base.

"She was effective," said first-year Hurricanes first-year coach Stacie Mahoe. "She wasn't overpowering, but she made us hit balls that her defense could handle."

Buffanblu coach Bob Makahilahila said the ILH's tough competition helped prepare his team.

"We had so many close games," Makahilahila said. "They learned how to play with pressure."

KAPOLEI (8-9) 000 000 0 — 0 3 1

PUNAHOU (12-3) 011 200 X — 4 8 1

Winona Pauline, Tanisha Aniya (6) and Aimee Aipa. Jasmine Ioane and Kayla Shimoda. W — Ioane. L — Pauline.

Leading hitters — Kapolei: Pauline 2-3. Punahou: Ioane 2-3, double; Mysha Sataraka 2-4, double, RBI; Reina Furuya double, 2 RBIs.

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