DENNIS ODA / DODA@STARBULLETIN.COM Derek Dupree went 2-for-3 at the plate for UH, but was picked off second base in the third and later bobbled a ball in center field.

Aztecs leave with 1 win

San Diego State averted a sweep in its four-game baseball series with Hawaii yesterday afternoon, rallying past the Rainbows 7-5 at Les Murakami Stadium.

A crowd of 1,205 saw Hawaii spot the Aztecs a 5-1 lead after four innings, then come back to tie it at 5-5 in the sixth. But San Diego State (1-3) shut down the Rainbows (3-1) over the final three innings, picking up two late runs to head home with the victory.

Hawaii coach Mike Trapasso was not disheartened by the loss, considering that the Rainbows played without their Nos. 3, 4 and 5 hitters. Out of the lineup with injuries were Justin Frash (No. 3), Kris Sanchez (No. 4) and Matt Inouye (No. 5).

"We were down by four runs, but we kept working," Trapasso said. "Overall I'm very happy with the guys. There were a lot more positives than negatives in this series.

"Our pitching will get better, needs another week to shake out and our defense will be a strong point. We know we can be better and we will be better."

The Aztecs pounded out 10 hits in the first four innings to take a 5-1 lead.

The Rainbows came back to tie it, with Luis Avila's two-run ground-rule double highlighting a three-run fifth and a single run in the sixth.

But San Diego State refused to let it get away, scoring runs in the seventh and eighth innings.

Paul Smyth led off the seventh with a double to the alley in left-center. He took third on a wild pitch by Dean Turner and scored on Joseph Scaperotta's one-out single to right through a drawn-in UH infield to put SDSU up 6-5.

The Aztecs got an insurance run in the eighth. Quintin Berry singled, and hustled into second when Derek Dupree bobbled the ball in center.

A wild pitch and passed ball allowed Berry to score what would be the game's final run.

"Going 3-1 is a good start, but it is just the first four games," Trapasso said. "I think our players realize this and will keep things in perspective.

"It was a sloppy series, but good from the intensity and emotion standpoints. It was a fun series, but I'm sure Tony (Aztec coach Gwynn) is not thinking that."

The teams combined for 56 runs over the four days, with Hawaii outscoring San Diego State 31-25.

Yesterday, the Rainbows struck first, plating a run in the first inning without a hit.

Robbie Wilder led off with a walk, stole second and took third on Joe Spiers' grounder to second. Jon Hee was hit by a pitch.

Avila then hit a high popup that first baseman Smyth misjudged. The ball landed just behind the dirt area around the bag, allowing Wilder to score.

San Diego State took a 3-1 lead in the third on Smyth's three-run homer.

The Aztecs increased the margin to 5-1 in the fifth on Curt Mendoza's two-run single, knocking UH starter Justin Costi out in the process.

"Justin had no fastball command," Trapasso said. "He was stuck throwing his change-up, his best pitch, but it only takes once through the lineup for them to figure out to lay off the change and wait for the fastball. I think their first six hits all came on hanging fastballs."

The Rainbows climbed back into the game in the bottom of the fifth.

Landon Hernandez walked to start the inning and took second on Dupree's single to center, Spiers was hit by a pitch, loading the bases.

Hernandez scored and the other runners advanced on a wild pitch. Hee walked, reloading the bases.

Gwynn brought Michael Koons in to face Avila. The senior first baseman bounced a 2-0 pitch over the right-center-field wall for a two-run, ground-rule double to pull UH to within 5-4.

Hawaii tied it at 5-5 in the sixth without a hit. Eli Christensen was safe at first on an error, stole second and eventually scored on another error.

Hawaii opens a three-game series against UC Irvine on Friday. Games are at 6:35 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 1:05 p.m. Sunday.

Notes: Spiers, who started his freshman year by hitting safely in his first 10 games, was 0-for-11 vs. SDSU. ... The Aztecs committed 16 errors to eight by the Rainbows.