Shane Brechmann (1-2) went seven-plus innings, allowing five hits and two walks with five strikeouts. The only run he allowed was unearned, scoring on a pick-off throwing error by catcher Justin Sanitch-Hughes when UH had the bases loaded with one out in the eighth. The run ended UH's scoreless innings streak at 20.

The Rainbows (19-23 overall, 6-10 WAC) snapped a three-game losing streak in winning for only the second time on the road this season (2-8). The Spartans (20-16-1, 9-7) are 6-7 in WAC play since sweeping defending champion Rice to start the conference season.

"He had very good fastball command," UH coach Mike Trapasso said of Bryant. "He did a nice job of getting ahead of the hitters and keeping the fastball down."

Bryant, who had four strikeouts and a walk, got 15 outs on grounders. The senior used only 103 pitches. The farthest advancement by the Spartans was to third base in the fourth inning. Anthony Contreras, who singled after Bryant retired the first nine batters of the game, took second on a sacrifice and reached third when Williamee grounded out to second. But Bryant stranded him there by getting Brandon Fromm to ground out to first baseman Adam Roberts.

Before the game, it was humid, Trapasso said. But by the bottom of the first inning, the wind kicked up.

"The wind was howling in right into the faces of the hitters," Trapasso said. "Our outfielders were playing incredibly shallow because all the fly balls were getting knocked down."

In the eighth, UH's Derek Dupree singled to left and took second when Brechmann's pick-off throw to first was wild for an error.

Joe Spiers walked, ending Brechmann's outing. Matt Winck came in and Erik Ammon's sacrifice moved the runners. Isaac Omura was intentionally walked to load the bases, bringing up Nate Thurber. On a 1-1 pitch, Thurber swung and missed.

Catcher Sanitch-Hughes' pick-off attempt to third was wild, allowing Dupree to score and the other runners to move up. But Winck eventually struck out Thurber and retired Roberts on a grounder to short.

"A win is a win, that's why you play," Trapasso said. "We don't care how we won. We're just glad we did and maybe we could use it as a start to try and win the series."

Already hurt in outfield depth with injuries to Greg Kish (ribs) and Robbie Wilder (ankle), the Rainbows were without Matt Inouye and Jeff Piaskowski. Both were not allowed to play for missing curfew, Trapasso said. Both will be available today.

Colby Summer (1-3) will start for UH today against Brandon Dewing (5-2).