Former Kamehameha Schools and Purdue University softball standout Liane Horiuchi remained in critical condition last night after undergoing surgery yesterday morning for internal injuries, according to Diane Lloyd, spokeswoman for Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis.

Horiuchi, 23, underwent several surgeries Saturday and another one yesterday morning for injuries to her pelvic bone, spleen and lungs — the result of a car accident late Friday night in Indiana. She was listed in critical condition late Saturday night, and Lloyd told The Advertiser at 9:15 last night that Horiuchi's condition was "still critical."

Ty Sing Chow, who coached Horiuchi at Kamehameha from 2001 through 2005, said a report from Horiuchi's close friend yesterday morning indicated she showed improvement following yesterday's operation.

"Apparently the doctors were able to stop the bleeding from her lungs," said Sing Chow, who added the information came via Horiuchi's calabash uncle. "It sounds like her condition has improved."

Horiuchi, who helped Kamehameha win the 2002 state championship and was a three-time Advertiser All-State first-team second baseman from 2003 through 2005, recently completed a highly successful career as a shortstop/third baseman for Purdue.

She first played college ball at Tennessee, helping the Volunteers make two College World Series appearances including a runner-up finish in 2007. Horiuchi transferred to Purdue after that season and — after redshirting in 2008 — set a school single-season record for stolen bases with 42 in 2009.

She broke that record with 43 this past season and finished as the Boilermakers' all-time leader with 85 for her career.

Horiuchi was named to the All-Big Ten third team as a shortstop this past season and the all-conference second team at third base last year.

In February, Horiuchi was drafted by the Akron Racers in the fifth round of the National Pro Fastpitch league. She is listed on their roster at the team's official Web site.

Horiuchi, a graduating senior who carried a 3.81 grade point average in Movement and Sports Science, also earned widespread recognition for academic achievement. She was named to the Academic All-Big Ten team, ESPN The Magazine's Academic All-District V Team and was one of only 30 players in the country nominated for the Lowe's Senior CLASS award recognizing athletic and academic achievement along with character and community service.

Horiuchi listed attending pharmacy school as one of her goals.

According to a story in Saturday's Lafayette (Ind.) Journal & Courier, Horiuchi and three other young women were injured when a car they were riding in hit a utility pole west of Brookston, Ind., around 10:39 p.m. Friday.

Glenn Jicha, who coached Horiuchi on his Mililani Prep club softball team, said according to family members she was pinned in the back seat. The news report added that Horiuchi was airlifted to Methodist Hospital.

Read his blog on high school sports at http://preptalk.honadvblogs.com