Jasmine Ioane pitched a two-hitter with six strikeouts and one walk, and also drove in three runs yesterday to help Punahou blank Baldwin, 6-0, and advance to its first DataHouse Softball State Championship semifinal since 2004.

The Interscholastic League of Honolulu runner-up Buffanblu improved to 13-3 in the regular and post season and will face No. 1 seed and O'ahu Interscholastic Association champ Mililani (13-3) in today's 7 p.m. semifinal at Rainbow Wahine Stadium.

"We're definitely super excited," said Ioane, a senior right-hander. "This is the farthest Punahou has made it in a long time."

The Buffanblu got right down to business early yesterday, taking a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning on Ioane's one-out, two-run single to left field after leadoff batter Reina Furuya reached on an error and Mysha Sataraka followed with a single to center.

They made it 5-0 in the third after an RBI single by Sataraka, Ioane's sacrifice fly to left and a run-scoring infield error.

Punahou extended the lead to 6-0 in the sixth on Kayla Shimoda's RBI single to center.

Meanwhile, Ioane stayed in control from the pitcher's circle and escaped her only jam when third baseman Sataraka stabbed a line drive by Tayler Shimiza to end the top of the third inning, stranding runners at second and third.

"They made the plays when they had to," said Bears coach Joe Duran. "Our inexperience showed, and we couldn't break their momentum."

Ioane said the Buffanblu want to continue the momentum going into tonight.

"We just have to keep working hard each game," she said.

BALDWIN (13-3) 000 000 0 — 0 2 4

PUNAHOU (13-3) 203 001 X — 6 8 3

Kaitlyn Watanabe, Alysha Sakamura (6) and Jessica Arruiza. Jasmine Ioane and Kayla Shimoda. W — Ioane. L — Watanabe.

Leading hitters — Baldwin: None. Punahou: Ioane 3 RBIs; Mysha Sataraka 2-3; Reina Furuya double.

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