On a miserable rainy and windy night, Hawai'i played like the elements in a 7-6 loss to Gonzaga last night to even the three-game series at 1.

The Rainbows (15-12) didn't pitch, field or hit well against the Bulldogs (11-14). They were out-hit, 12-8, and made two errors that accounted for three unearned runs that obviously made the difference.

"We didn't play well," UH coach Mike Trapasso said. "We were below average in every phase of the game. We didn't swing the bats. We didn't make anything out of opportunities we had early for the first eight innings. Gave up too many hits early. Two errors cost us three runs. That's the ball game. We weren't good tonight. Period."

Adding to their woes was starting pitcher Matt Sisto leaving after 2 2/3 innings because of discomfort in his bicep.

"We'll find out more on Monday," Trapasso said.

But Nate Klein returned for the first time since he left his start against Southern California on March 12 after 1 2/3 innings with shoulder tenderness. Klein threw nine pitches in a perfect ninth, striking out one.

With UH trailing 7-3, Trapasso felt it was the right time to give Klein a try.

"He threw well," Trapasso said. "I had no problem putting him in that situation. He threw well in two bullpen sessions."

Trapasso said he is unsure when Klein will be fully ready to return to the rotation.

Most of the 2,848 at Les Murakami Stadium had left when the Rainbows sent seven batters to the plate in the ninth, but fell one run shy.

Liam Baron gave up double to David Freitas and walked Collin Bennett before being pulled for Mark Phillips, who walked Kevin Macdonald to load the bases. Pinch hitter Christian Johnson's single made it 7-4. Later, pinch hitter Sean Montplaisir's RBI single and an error on the play pulled the Rainbows to 7-6. With runners at first and second, Matt Roquemore grounded to short for a game-ending double play.

Gonzaga starter Ryan Carpenter (2-3) went five innings, allowing two runs, four hits and four walks with seven strikeouts.

Sisto (3-4) gave up two runs on six hits with no strikeouts in 2 2/3 innings.

The Bulldogs were aided by a two-out error in a three-run fifth when left fielder Kalani Brackenridge dropped a fly ball to let two runs score.

In the eighth, the Bulldogs scored what turned out to be the deciding run when first baseman Macdonald made a rare fielding error on a grounder by Kevin Hawk, who eventually scored on a two-out bunt single by Drew Heid. Heid led Gonzaga's 12-hit attack by batting 3 for 5.

The Rainbows had their opportunities throughout the game, but stranded 13 runners, leaving the bases loaded twice.

The series concludes at 1:05 p.m. today.

"We didn't play well at all," Trapasso said "That ninth inning, too little, too late."