Neal Honma dives back to first base ahead of the tag.
Photos by Kathryn Bender, Star-Bulletin

Entering last night's game with Oregon State, Hawaii was dangerously close to falling out of contention for the 21st annual Bank of America Rainbow Easter Tournament title.

UH head coach Les Murakami was concerned enough to start top pitcher Mark Johnson and close with No. 2 starter Ah Yat before the Rainbows secured the 8-7 10-inning win over the Beavers.

Ah Yat threw three innings of rock-steady relief to raise his record to 6-4 and lower his earned run average to 5.00.

The senior scattered four hits, walked one and struck out seven in an emotional win for a struggling team.

"I don't know, I didn't think we were going to lose," Ah Yat said. "The attitude in the dugout was everybody was up and intense.

"The loss to Hilo was a hard one for everybody. I think after that defeat that everyone was more eager to come out and play, and get that next win.

"Our backs are against the wall. We have to start proving that we can play and we can win."

The victory over Oregon State halted a four-game slide for UH that culminated with Tuesday night's 4-3 loss to UH-Hilo. The Rainbows are 19-14 for the season, while the Beavers are 15-5-1.

The Rainbows eventually scored the winning run in the 10th on a balk by Chris Pine that brought in Neal Honma from third. Umpire Keith Howe ruled Pine dropped his hands after coming set, something Murakami agreed with.

"To me, it was very obvious," Murakami said. "It's a tough way to lose for Oregon State, but definitely a good win for our club."

Hawaii is tied with Hilo, Lewis-Clark State and Oregon State with 2-1 tournament marks. Hilo continued its winning ways with a 9-2 shellacking of Nittaidai.

The Japanese university fell to 1-2 in tournament action. Wright State - a team Hawaii faces tonight at 6:35 - dropped to 0-3 after being soundly whipped by Lewis-Clark State, 11-2.

Murakami will go with junior college transfer Daven Hermosura, who gained his eligibility yesterday.

The former Campbell High and Hilo pitcher has been waiting all semester to be cleared academically by UH officials.

If Hawaii wins tonight, Murakami probably will save Robby Robinson for Saturday's semifinal. Ah Yat or Randon Ho could come back and start Sunday.

Murakami said Johnson may be available as a reliever, but he would be reluctant to use him too long after last night's 125-pitch count.

Since returning home from a sterling performance on the road at Cal State-Northridge and Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo, Johnson has had a pair of shaky starts.

He lost to Fresno State on Friday and didn't figure in the decision with Oregon State. The U.S. Olympic hopeful suddenly is struggling with his control.

Before being lifted with two outs in the sixth, Johnson gave up four earned runs on five hits. He struck out seven - including the side in the first - but also walked five, hit his 10th batter of the season and uncorked three wild pitches.

"I don't know what it is, but he's all over the place," Murakami said. "He can't always make the pitches when he wants to."

Despite loading the bases with nobody out on a walk and two singles in the first, Johnson gave up only one run, on a wild pitch, thanks to striking out the side.

Hawaii came back for two more in the second. Jaime Ahu drew a two-out walk and came around to score on Jason Ross' booming triple into the gap in right.

Ross crossed the plate on a single back through the box by Honma, who went 4-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs scored.

The Beavers countered with an unearned run in the third. Leadoff batter Ryan Hilts shot a single back through the box. He crossed the plate on a three-base error by Ross, who dropped a routine fly by Jason Stranburg.

Johnson got into trouble in the fourth after loading the bases on a single and two walks. Stranburg ripped a two-run single to right to give Oregon State a 4-3 lead.

The Beavers added another run in the sixth without the benefit of a hit. Johnson hit Tyson Veramillion. He stole second, went to third on a bad throw by catcher Kenn Wakakuwa and scored on another wild pitch by Johnson.

Hawaii fought back with three runs in the sixth. Robert Medeiros led off with a single to center, went to second on a wild pitch and scored on a single by Wakakuwa.

Ahu hit a single and Ross walked to load the bases. Honma tied the game on a walk by losing pitcher Pine, who also balked in the go-ahead run.

In the seventh, his wild pitch scored Jody Napuunoa, who opened the inning with a double to center. But it wasn't enough.

Hawaii relief pitchers Troy Yoshimasu and Ah Yat walked the first three batters in the eighth. Hilts brought in one run on a single to right and Ryan McDonald tied it on a force play.

Thomas Ford got the complete-game victory by limiting Nittaidai to one earned run on six hits. The Vulcans were led at the plate by Felipe Caoili and Mike Jackson, who were a combined 3-for-9 with four RBIs.

Starting Warriors pitcher Chris Nickum left with an 8-2 lead after six innings. He is 3-0 for the season. Todd Fine fell to 0-3 after yielding five runs in less than three innings of work.

The big hitters for the Warriors, who are 18-5 for the season, were Keith Habig and Art Baeza. They were 4-for-8 with five RBIs.