Less than 72 hours after a heartbreaking extra-inning loss at Kailua, the Moanalua High School baseball team got back on track yesterday by rallying for a 3-2 victory over visiting Kaiser.

Both teams are 4-1 in the O'ahu Interscholastic Association's Eastern Division, trailing first-place Kailua (6-0).

"This shows how we can bounce back," said Na Menehune junior Jordan Monico, whose two-run double tied yesterday's game at 2-2 in the fifth inning. "It shows we can keep our composure and win a close game."

Moanalua needed the confidence boost after squandering a late 2-0 lead Wednesday and then falling, 4-2, when Kili Vierra hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the eighth inning.

"They were a little down on Thursday and were a little flat at practice," Na Menehune coach Scott Yamada said. "This was good for us to come back and win against another good team."

Kaiser graduated almost its entire lineup from last year's team that tied for the East championship. But the Cougars showed they're still a talented contender, taking a 2-0 lead in the top of the fifth inning yesterday.

Dustin Dela Pena led off with a double to right and later scored on Cal Tashiro's squeeze bunt. Michael Kawashima made it 2-0 by scoring on Bryce Marcouiller's single to right. But a backdoor relay throw caught a Kaiser runner diving back to third base to end the inning and kill the rally. The Cougars would have had the bases loaded.

"That hurt us," Kaiser coach Peter Ho said.

Moanalua capitalized in the bottom of the inning, with Chris Liu-Saguid and Josh Horikawa scoring on Monico's one-out double to the left-field corner, and Jay Yoshizawa following with another run-scoring double to almost the same spot.

Kaiser loaded the bases in the sixth, but reliever Jordan Hirata got a flyout to center for the third out. The Cougars stranded 10 runners.

"We're a young team," Ho said. "There's some growing pains."

KAISER (4-1) 000 020 0 — 2 9 0

MOANALUA (4-1) 000 030 X — 3 9 1

Toby Inouye and Bryce Marcouiller; Kenson Miyaki, Jordan Hirata (6) and Chris Liu-Saguid. W — Miyaki. L — Inouye. S — Hirata.

Leading hitters — Kaiser: Michael Kawashima 2-3, double; Joe Honma 2-3; Devin Dela Pena 2-4; Inouye double; Dustin Dela Pena double. Moanalua: Jay Yoshizawa 2-3, double, RBI; Jared Coloma 2-3; Jordan Monico double, 2 RBIs; Josh Horikawa double.

Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com.