West Kaua‘i forces Game 3

LIHU‘E — For five innings the West Kaua‘i and Lihu‘e All-Stars matched each other run for run.

The sixth inning was different, and now the series is going the distance.

Toto’s Perreira-Alquiza’s RBI single in the top of the sixth inning scored Degan Davis to give the West Kaua‘i All-Stars a 4-3 win over the Lihu‘e All-Stars in the Mustang Playoffs Thursday afternoon at Lihu‘e County Park.

The West Kaua‘i win evened the best-of-three series at one game apiece. The third and deciding game will take place at Anne Knudsen Park in Koloa at 10 a.m.

Team Lihu‘e tried to close out the series early Thursday when they opened up the game with a run in the first inning. After leading off with a single Ricky Rego came around to score to give Lihu‘e a 1-0 lead. Lihu‘e tacked on two more runs in the second inning after Malu Ralston and Dawson Kalapaca led off the innings with a single and walk, and came around to score on a Kaimi Malina double.

West Kaua‘i scored their first run in the second inning When Davis came around to score on a wild pitch after a lead off walk.

West Kaua‘i tacked on two more runs in the third inning to tie the game with two runs scored on wild pitches.

Both teams traded chances over the next two innings but stellar defense took over to silence the bats. The defensive highlight came in the fourth inning when West Kaua‘i silenced a Lihu‘e rally with a double play initiated by shortstop Hoku Parbo.

In the sixth inning, West Kaua‘i threaten to put more than one run on the board but Lihu‘e relief pitcher Kaimi Malina caught three consecutive West Kaua‘i batters looking to end the threat.

In the bottom of the inning with Lihu‘e needing a run to extend the game, West Kaua‘i reliever Perreira-Alquiza retired Lihu‘e in order to end the game.

• Tyson Alger, sports writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 237) or by emailing talger@ thegardenisland.com. Follow him on twitter.com/tysonalger.