Joslyn Eugenio pitched a complete game and went 3 for 3 with two doubles and two RBIs yesterday to lift Sacred Hearts to a 4-2 victory over Castle in the first round of the DataHouse/HHSAA Softball Division I State Championships.

The Lancers, who finished third in the Interscholastic League of Honolulu, improved to 6-9 in the regular and postseason and will face No. 2 seed and O'ahu Interscholastic Association champ Roosevelt (14-1) in today's 5 p.m. quarterfinal at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.

Sacred Hearts, the only squad in the 12-team field with a losing record, needed to win special playoff games against Punahou and Pac-Five last week just to qualify for the tournament.

"But I told our girls, 'Don't look at their record,' " said Castle coach Jon Berinobis, whose Knights (11-6) finished fourth in the OIA. "They've won a lot of games in a row, and they're a tough team, they play in a tough league. They're very well-coached."

Eugenio was locked into a scoreless pitching duel with Castle's Chandelle Dacosin for the first three innings.

But the Lancers took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth on Sara Souza's two-out single to right, scoring Meleina Fraga from third base. Eugenio then made it 3-0 in the fifth with a two-run double to center with one out.

Tai Vegas capped the rally with a two-out RBI double to left-center.

The Knights closed to 4-2 in the seventh on Leisha Li'ili'i's two-run single, but Eugenio was able to get a grounder to third to end the game.

Sacred Hearts coach Wade Okamura said he has tried to convince his team not to be satisfied with the state berth.

"We're happy to be here, but I told them it's like going to Disneyland," Okamura said. "Once you get to the gate, you don't want to just stand there."

CASTLE (11-6) 000 000 2—2 9 2

SAC. HEARTS (6-9) 000 130 X—4 7 3

Chandelle Dacosin, Maycee Moe (5) and Brooke-Lee Kaululaau. Joslyn Eugenio and Keicha Brunn. W — Eugenio. L — Dacosin.

Leading hitters — Sacred Hearts: Leisha Li'ili'i 2-4, 2 RBIs; Brittney Lane 2-4. Castle: Joslyn Eugenio 3-3, 2 doubles, 2 RBIs; Sydney Vegas double.