Kamehameha softball coach James Millwood endured some tense moments late in the Warriors’ state tournament opener on Wednesday.

But after the Warriors survived a 2-1 duel with Roosevelt, he was grateful to advance and for the challenge.

“I like this kind of game and I’m glad we were able to play a tough game and hopefully gives us some momentum going into the next three,” Millwood said outside Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.

Kamehameha senior Rayla Jacobs-Kea relied on her defense throughout the first-round game in the DataHouse/HHSAA Division I State Softball Championship, and the Warriors ended the game with a line-out double play with the tying run on third.

Jacobs-Kea, whose ILH season was curtailed by shoulder and back injuries, forced 15 ground ball outs and her infield snagged three line drives, the last going to second baseman Dee Castillo-Hopu to start a game-ending double play with the tying run on third.

“It was a little nerve wracking,” said Jacobs-Kea, who struck out two in a complete-game victory. “I just knew I had to put it in play for them and they would get the job done.”

Kamehameha advanced to a quarterfinal matchup with fourth seed and BIIF champion Waiakea today at 2:15 p.m. at RWSS.

Roosevelt junior Mari Foster spent much of the game with Warriors on base, but escaped bases-loaded situations in the second inning and stranded 10 Kamehameha runners on base.

Kamehameha center fielder Alana Cobb-Adams, a speedy senior, manufactured the game’s first run, leading off the bottom of the third with a bunt single. She stole second and went to third on a wild pitch. Castillo-Hopu dropped another bunt in front of the plate to squeeze in Cobb-Adams.

The Warriors made it 2-0 with a run in the sixth when Kamehameha shortstop Shaylee Alani capped a 3-for-3 night by drilling a single to center to drive in pinch-runner Kaile Yasui.

The Warriors needed the extra cushion in the seventh when Jaeda Cabunoc singled to left and Foster followed with a double to center. Haylie Uetake followed with a grounder to second and Cabunoc beat the throw to the plate. Foster advanced to third and stayed there on a grounder back to Jacobs-Kea for the first out. Hoku Ching’s line drive then found Castillo-Hopu’s glove to start the game-ending double play.

AT RAINBOW WAHINE SOFTBALL STADIUM

Roosevelt (11-5) 000 000 1 — 1 6 0

Kamehameha (11-3-1) 001 001 x — 2 7 0

Mari Foster and Haylie Uetake. Rayla Jacobs-Kea and Kyler Stephens. W—Jacobs-Kea L—Foster.

Leading hitters—Roosevelt: Foster, 2B; Uetake, 2B, RBI. Kamehameha: Dee Castillo-Hopu, RBI; Shaylee Alani, 3-3, 2B, RBI.