Four Hawai'i pitchers combined on a three-hitter to beat Grambling State, 11-2, yesterday in a non-conference baseball game at Grambling, La.

It was the first meeting between the teams.

Seldom-used Dean Turner (1-1) allowed a run on two walks and a wild pitch in four hitless innings of relief for the Rainbows (33-12), who improved to 9-2 on the road with their fourth straight win.

"Dean was throwing well, so we kept sending him out there," UH coach Mike Trapasso said. "I was really happy that Dean got his first college win. That was a good night for him."

Turner, a senior, had three strikeouts in what was just his 11th appearance in his two seasons at UH.

The Tigers (6-36) got their second run on an eighth-inning solo home run by Marvin Mercer off Matt Daly, who allowed only that hit while striking out five in two innings.

Third baseman Justin Frash led the Rainbows, batting 2 for 3 with four RBIs and three walks. Designated hitter Adam Roberts had UH's only extra-base hit, an RBI double in a two-run sixth.

Mark Rodrigues started for UH, allowing two singles in two scoreless innings, leaving with a 1-0 lead from a first-inning RBI grounder by Luis Avila.

"He was very good," Trapasso said of Rodrigues. "He had as good a stuff he's had in a while. That was real good to see."

Turner relieved in the third, and allowed two walks and a fly to deep center that advanced both runners. A wild pitch scored a run that made it 1-1.

The Rainbows took the lead in the fourth on Frash's two-run single against Michael Hall (0-1), who had entered with one out in the first.

Hawai'i added two more in the sixth against Donald Walls on Roberts' double and an RBI ground out by Nathan Young.

The Rainbows pulled away by batting around in a six-run eighth. There were four walks in the inning, one by Joe Spiers with the bases loaded to force in a run. Robbie Wilder was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to score another. The only hit in the inning was Frash's two-run single. Two other runs scored on a fielding error.

Hawai'i freshman Jayson Kramer pitched a perfect ninth, striking out the last batter.

The Tigers used six pitchers, who combined for 15 walks.

The Rainbows resume the important portion of their trip tomorrow at Louisiana Tech (28-18), which beat Louisiana Monroe, 8-7, in a non-conference game yesterday.

The Bulldogs (9-8) are fourth in the Western Athletic Conference, 1 1/2 games behind UH (10-6). Between them are Fresno State and San Jose State, both at 9-6.

Tomorrow's series opener is at 1 p.m., Hawai'i time. The Rainbows will be the home team because this is a makeup of the March 19 rainout at Les Murakami Stadium.

Friday's game reverts back to LaTech being the home team, as will Saturday's doubleheader.