Hawai'i gave No. 1 Arizona State its best competition of the young season, losing 3-0 yesterday in the Coca-Cola Classic at Billy Parker Field in Surprise, Ariz.

The Sun Devils (5-0), who have pummeled nationally ranked teams by double digits — Vanderbilt, 18-0, Oregon State, 11-0, and Michigan, 15-4 — this season, also tossed their third shutout of the season, using five pitchers to combine on a five-hitter.

UH stranded seven runners in scoring position and left the bases loaded in the ninth.

The Rainbows (5-4) have games today against No. 8 Michigan (0-2 in the tournament) and Portland (2-0 tourney) at 9 a.m. and 1 p.m., respectively, HST. Part of the test is how they respond.

"That moral victory stuff, you can learn from a loss and you can get better from a loss only if you go out and play well the next day," UH coach Mike Trapasso said. "How we benefit from playing the No. 1 team in the country tight really remains to be seen till after tomorrow's games."

UH suffered its first shutout since Feb. 11, 2006 in a 1-0 loss to UC Irvine. Stephen Sauer (1-0), who came in after starter Jason Franzblau turned in three hitless innings, apparently was deemed the most effective. He struck out four and scattered three hits in 2 1/3 innings. Jason Jarvis came in from left field to get the final out for his first save.

Jarvis, who inherited runners at first and second, gave up an infield single to pinch hitter Sean Montplaisir. But he retired Jon Hee, who was robbed of a possible hit on a diving stop by shortstop Marcel Champagnie, who tossed to second for a game-ending force play.

It was the fifth time UH left runners in scoring position.

"We had opportunities," Trapasso said. "You can't squander opportunities against the No. 1-ranked team in the country."

Junior right-hander Jared Alexander (2-1) gave up two runs (one earned) and eight hits, while not allowing a walk and striking out five in 6 1/3 innings. Nick Rhodes finished the final 1 2/3 innings, allowing a run.

"He was able to throw all four of his pitches for strikes at any time in the count," Trapasso said of Alexander's effectiveness. "That's what you have to do against a lineup like that. You have to go at 'em and pitch backwards. You have to throw off-speed in hitting counts."

The Sun Devils took a 1-0 lead in the second, scoring after a fielding error by shortstop Greg Garcia. They got their next two runs on RBI triples by Raoul Torrez in the seventh off Alexander and by Marcel Champagnie in the eighth off Rhodes.

Champagnie led ASU's 11-hit attack by batting 3 for 4.

Landon Hernandez was 2 for 4, including a double, the only extra-base hit allowed by the Sun Devils.

ESPN 1420 AM will give hourly updates from 9:56 a.m. today. It can't broadcast the games in entirety because of logistical issues.