In an evaluation and heal-up nonconference game, Hawai'i fell to Stanford, 5-1, yesterday at Klein Field at Sunken Diamond in Stanford, Calif.

Starting pitcher Josh Slaats, who has totaled 4 1/3 innings his last two starts, tossed two scoreless frames for the Rainbows (26-24). He allowed a second-inning single, but the runner was erased on a double play. In the first inning, he allowed a line out to second and deep fly to center.

"He was just OK," UH coach Mike Trapasso said. "First inning, he struggled with command, he struggled getting ahead (in the count) and struggled keeping the ball down. Second inning, he made some adjustments and looked better."

Still, Trapasso was undecided on Friday's starter for the four-game Western Athletic Conference series at San Jose State. Slaats, a four-time WAC Pitcher of the Week, has been the series-opening starter the previous seven series.

"He didn't throw too much to not (be able) to throw on Friday," Trapasso said.

Trapasso rested first baseman Kevin Macdonald (ankle) and DH/outfielder Jeffrey Van Doornum (shoulder). Trapasso said Van Doornum just had a cortisone shot and was able to play yesterday. Catcher David Freitas started at DH, so Kevin Fujii got the start behind the plate, going 2 for 3, including his first career home run to account for UH's only run against the Cardinal (28-20).

"Kevin did a great job," Trapasso said.

Hawai'i took a 1-0 lead in the third on Fujii's homer off Stanford starter Danny Brink, who gave up three hits in 4 1/3 innings.

But the Cardinal tied it in the fourth when an error by shortstop Greg Garcia was later cashed in on Eric Smith's RBI single off Alex Capaul, the first of four relievers used by UH.

The Cardinal broke the game open in the sixth against Harrison Kuroda, who gave up two doubles and an RBI single before giving way to Jesse Moore, who started the game in left field.

But before Moore threw his first pitch, he was called for a balk with runners at second and third, bringing home a run and moving the other runner to third, where he scored on Jake Schlander's single that made it 4-1.

Stanford added a run in the seventh when Moore hit Jake Stewart with a pitch to start the inning, took third on Tyler Gaffney's single and scored on Colin Walsh's single to make it 5-1.

Lenny Linsky, the fourth relief pitcher for UH, retired all four batters he faced.

Meanwhile Brian Busick (5-1) allowed one hit in 2 2/3 scoreless innings of relief. Mark Appel allowed two hits in the final two innings, but still faced only six batters because of two double plays.

The Rainbows resume play Friday at San Jose State. The game will be broadcast on ESPN 1420 AM following the Rainbow Wahine softball team's regional game against UC Davis at Stanford.