LAS CRUCES, N.M. - The wind was still blowing out at double-digit velocity at Presley Askew Field yesterday, and the scoreboard provided the sad proof.

New Mexico State, which has groomed its hitters to loft the ball and use the prevailing breezes, scored 10 runs in the first two innings off a depleted Hawai'i pitching staff and coasted to a 20-9 victory in a Western Athletic Conference game shortened to seven innings by the run rule.

The No. 20 Rainbows and Aggies split the series, 2-2.

Hawai'i is the first of eight visiting teams to get a split this year in a place where the wind routinely blows out, and gusts registered at up to 24 mph to right-center field yesterday.

"It's tough to take three out of four from these guys, because they are such a good hitting team and the park," said Rainbows third baseman Vinnie Catricala, who was walked three times before homering in the seventh inning.

"A split is not bad. We can walk away and learn something from this. A ballpark like this, and like the one in Reno, you are never out of it. We just have to never give up and keep fighting."

The Rainbows (26-16, 9-6) are tied with Nevada (21-20, 7-4) for first place in the WAC, with New Mexico State (34-10, 9-7) a half-game back.

"We're still in good position to take league," Catricala said.

Catricala's homer was his third of the series and the Rainbows' ninth, moving them into second place in the school record book for homers in a season with 45. The school record is 58, set in 1982.

Hawai'i freshman Kolten Wong extended his hitting streak to 16 games while going 3 for 4 with a double and an RBI. He was 8 for 18 in the series.

Teammate Kevin Macdonald was 2 for 4 with an RBI, and was 7 for 19 with 11 RBIs in the series. Greg Garcia and Sean Montplasir also had eight hits.

At the same time, New Mexico State scored 53 runs in the series to extend its NCAA Division I scoring total to 508.

The Aggies' 20 runs were a season-high against the Rainbows, who also gave up 17 in a loss at Arizona State to start the trip Tuesday.

"Overall, we didn't hurt ourselves" in the WAC race, Hawai'i coach Mike Trapasso said.

"As funny as it sounds, this is the worst road trip, pitching-wise, that I've ever been associated with and yet we are leaving here with a split.

"There are not too many teams that are going to come in there and get a split. (The Aggies) play that well here, and they fit the ball park. I'm disappointed with today, but I can't be upset, other than to say we didn't pitch. We didn't execute our pitches."

Hawai'i right-hander Alex Capaul started after scheduled starter Jared Alexander was forced into relief duty Saturday, when he got the victory. Relievers Lenny Linsky and Alex Myers were sent home earlier on the trip for violating team rules.

Aggies first baseman Ben Harty hit a three-run homer to cap a four-run first, and New Mexico State drove Capaul out of the game in a six-run second inning. A six-run sixth put the game away.

"We knew we were behind the eight ball because of the two guys that were unavailable," Trapasso said.

"We'll get home and regroup and go from there."