Sisters Ailana and Aleia Agbayani had each other’s back, and it was enough to push ‘Iolani into the state softball quarterfinals.

Ailana Agbayani struck out eight in 42⁄3 innings in relief of her sister to earn the win and Aleia Agbayani drove in Ailana three different times in the Raiders’ 11-10 victory over Waianae on Wednesday in the opening round of the Datahouse/HHSAA Softball State Championships in Division I at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.

Aleia Agbayani, a senior, finished 3-for-3 with a triple, home run and five RBIs to make up for allowing five runs in 21⁄3 innings on the mound.

Ailana Agbayani, a freshman, went 3-for-4 with a triple and three runs scored and provided enough pitching to earn the win in a game dominated by the two offenses.

“It was a real battle today,” ‘Iolani coach Benny Agbayani said. “(Ailana and Aleia) know they are a big part of this team but you’re never going to win if you don’t have a team. ‘Iolani always emphasizes ‘One Team’ and I told the girls that when we started and that’s why we’re here.”

The Raiders (16-5), ranked third in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser Top 10, won their first game in the state tournament since 2009 when they were the No. 1 seed and advanced to the semifinals.

The Seariders (9-8), ranked as high as No. 2 in the state this year, kept pace the entire game, scoring in six of the seven innings they came to bat.

Xailey Kamealoha’s two-run homer in the top of the seventh inning cut the deficit to 11-10 with nobody out. Paiaala Wilcox-Molina drew a walk and Vena Palenapa reached on a two-out error to put the tying run on third.

Lei Kapihe, who scored twice earlier in the game as a courtesy runner, nearly tied the game on a flare to right that went foul by inches before Ailana Agbayani got her eighth strikeout to end it.

“Waianae is a good team. You can’t sleep on them,” Benny Agbayani said.

Ailana Agbayani, playing for the first time at UH’s home field, was called on in relief of Aleia after a bases-loaded walk in the third inning cut ‘Iolani’s lead to 6-5. She struck out the first four batters she faced and did enough to earn the win.

“The umpire was squeezing the strike zone so I was getting a little frustrated, but I wanted this game and I decided to push through it and tried to just go with what the umpires called,” Ailana said.

Ailana was standing on first base after her third hit of the game in the fifth inning when Aleia blasted a three-run homer to dead center that challenged the top of the net guarding the tennis courts behind the outfield fence to give ‘Iolani a lead it wouldn’t give up.

The two-out homer came on a 3-1 pitch with runners on first and third. Aleia Agbayani never thought for a moment that Waianae might pitch around her.

“I took the opportunity and went for it,” Aleia said. “I swung at the first pitch and then I ended up getting back into a (hitters) count and I’m thinking if I see a strike I’m swinging.”

Kailyn Barrett added a two-run homer and drove in three runs for ‘Iolani, which will open the quarterfinals at noon today against Kealakehe.

Baldwin 10, Maryknoll 2

Saree-Ann Kekahuna homered and drove in three runs to lead the Bears’ 17-hit attack against the Spartans (13-7).

Aliya Harmon pitched a complete game three-hitter to earn the win for the Bears (10-6) and also doubled twice and drove in a run. Alyssa Ferreira added three hits and two RBIs for Baldwin, which will play No. 1 seed Campbell tonight at 7:30.

Leilehua 11, Kapolei 9

Jacelyn Kepaa hit two of the seven home runs hit in the game and drove in five runs to lead the Mules (10-6) over the Hurricanes (8-10).

Alyssa Asuncion and Alyssa Abe also homered for Leilehua, which will play MIL champion Lahainaluna in today at 2:30 p.m.

Puakea Milbourne hit two homers and drove in three runs for Kapolei.

Division II

Waimea 7, Nanakuli 5

Taira Abren homered and Jenessa Freitas and Kiana Kaiwi each had extra-base hits, drove in a run and scored in a six-run sixth inning to help the Menehunes (8-6) erase a three-run deficit and beat the Golden Hawks (8-5).

Nikayla Oyamot-Tanig allowed one unearned run in 22⁄3 innings of relief for Waimea to earn the win. The Menehunes will play No. 1 seed Kamehameha-Hawaii in today’s final quarterfinal at 7 p.m.

Honokaa 11, McKinley 3

Catcher Natasha Molina doubled twice and drove in two runs and Tehani Epenesa, who struck out 14 in a complete game on the mound, scored three runs to lead the Dragons (12-6) over the Tigers (8-5).

Shaela Jardine added two hits, two runs scored and three RBIs for Honokaa, which will play OIA champion Waialua in today’s quarterfinals at 2:15.

Kohala 12, Waipahu 3

Mikayla Kekoa struck out 14 and allowed just two hits in a complete-game victory and homered and drove in four runs to lead the Cowboys (12-6) over the Marauders (6-8).

Kohala will play KIF champion Kapaa today at noon.