Collin Bennett's bases-loaded, run-scoring single with no out in the bottom of the 10th inning rallied Hawai'i past New Mexico State, 11-10, last night to take the opener of the four-game Western Athletic Conference series.

The Rainbows' second extra-inning game of the season lasted four hours and three minutes.

Jeffrey Van Doornum led off with a walk against Justin Cooper. David Freitas was hit by a pitch while squaring to bunt. Cooper was pulled for Steven Anderson after a 2-0 count on Greg Garcia, who reached on a sacrifice/fielder's choice when the third baseman elected to go for the lead runner at third, but was late. Bennett then grounded a 1-1 pitch up the middle against a drawn-in infield to win it for the Rainbows (24-22 overall, 7-10 WAC).

The Rainbows trailed 8-3 entering the bottom of the fourth and scored in each inning from the fourth through eighth before winning it in the 10th before 1,204 at Les Murakami Stadium.

Lenny Linsky (1-0) allowed a hit, but got the final two outs in the top of the 10th for Blair Walters, whose 2 1/3 scoreless innings of relief gave the Rainbows a chance to pull off the comeback.

Cooper (4-2) was charged with the run in two-plus innings for the Aggies (35-17-1, 13-7-1), who have dropped five in a row.

Neither starter figured in the decision. UH starter Josh Slaats pitched 2 1/3 innings, allowing six runs, seven hits and two walks with three strikeouts. NMSU starter Daniel Simon allowed five runs (three earned) in four-plus innings.

The Rainbows jumped to a 2-0 lead in the first inning. They loaded the bases on walks to Kolten Wong to start the inning and two outs later to Freitas and Greg Garcia. Bennett reached on pitcher Simon's throwing error on a squibbler back to the mound, allowing two runs to score.

The Aggies cut their deficit in half in the top of the second on Jared Jordan's two-out RBI single to left-center.

The Aggies scored five in the third to take the lead and chase Slaats in the process. Ryan Aguayo doubled with one out, Leo Aguirre walked and Chris Auten singled to load the bases. Chace Perkins' single to short after a diving stop by shortstop Garcia scored Aguayo to tie the game at 2 and reloaded the bases. Joel Cardinal walked to force home a run to put the Aggies ahead, 3-2. After falling behind 2-0 to Parker Hipp, Slaats was pulled for Alex Capaul. Hipp's flare single to left scored Auten and reloaded the bases to set up Jordan's flare two-run single that increased NMSU's lead to 6-2.

Hawai'i got one back in the bottom of the third. Pi'ikea Kitamura walked with one out, went to second on a wild pitch and after Jeffrey Van Doornum struck out, scored on Freitas' single to center to pull to 6-3.

The Aggies added two in the fourth on RBI doubles by Aguirre and Perkins to make it 8-3.

The 'Bows got one back in the fourth. Bennett led off with a single and Kevin Macdonald walked. Both advanced on Chase Koissian's sacrifice. Bennett scored when Sean Montplaisir grounded out to second to make it 8-4.

Hawai'i got two in the fifth. Kitamura led off with a walk to end Simon's night for Adam Heredia. A wild pitch moved Kitamura to second before Van Doornum walked. Another wild pitch advanced the runners to second and third. Freitas' sacrifice fly to right also advanced Van Doornum to third. Garcia's RBI single to right pulled UH to 8-6, but Greg Garcia was thrown out at second trying to stretch his hit into a double.

The Rainbows tied it in the sixth on a controversial play. Montplaisir singled with two outs and took third on Wong's double to center. Montplaisir scored when the center field bobbled the ball. Although the relay to the plate had Montplaisir out, the umpire ruled that the catcher blocked the base path without the ball, allowing the run. Reyes was pulled for Scott Coffman, who was greeted with a flare RBI single by Kitamura to tie the game at 8.

The Aggies regained the lead in the seventh. Perkins led off with a walk before Capaul struck out the next two batters. But pinch hitter Zac Fisher drilled Capaul's first offering over the right-field fence for the first homer of the game and put NMSU up 10-8.

Hawai'i pulled to within one in the bottom of the seventh. Garcia doubled with one out and scored on Bennett's single to right.

The Rainbows tied it in the eighth. Wong led off with a single, took second on Kitamura's sacrifice, went to third when Van Doornum grounded out to short before Freitas walked. Garcia walked to load the bases. Bennett's single to short scored Wong to tie the game at 10, but Freitas was thrown out at the plate from shortstop to end the inning.

Notes:Long-time youth coach and administrator Clifford Rodrigues was named recipient of the Chuck Leahey award prior to the game.