Funks are a part of baseball. Finding a way out of them is another part of the game.

Hawai'i pitcher Ian Harrington had his second shortest outing of his 10 starts this season, lasting two-plus innings, allowing five runs, four hits and three walks in a 9-1 loss to San Jose State Friday night. His problems are mechanical.

"Lately, I've been struggling to repeat my delivery," said Harrington in a telephone interview from his home in Renton, Wash. "It has caused me to be erratic with pitch location. It's definitely something I have to focus on on Thursday."

That's when the Rainbows resume Western Athletic Conference play in a three-game series at Sacramento State. He is scheduled to start the series opener set for 11 a.m., Hawai'i time.

With support from his coaches and teammates, Harrington left the team after his brief outing Friday to return home for a memorial service Saturday for family friend, Travis Britt. He was Harrington's younger sister Tessa's boyfriend. He was 19 when he died March 27.

Harrington said Britt was diagnosed with a rare form of bone cancer just before his senior year at Kentridge High, where he graduated in 2005. Harrington said Britt was a good athlete and was getting letters from Division I football programs.

"His dream was to play for Washington State," said Harrington, who added that Britt, a linebacker, also was a talented third baseman in baseball.

Although Britt could not continue football his senior year at Kentridge, he did participate in drama, Harrington said.

"He inspired a lot of people with his attitude," Harrington said. "He took the whole battle and it didn't hold him back one bit."

Meanwhile, Harrington said he has been able to stay in his normal routine between starts while at home. He said he threw a bullpen session yesterday with one of his former coaches.

The Rainbows (22-11 overall, 3-3 WAC) will embark on their longest road trip of the season. After the series at Sacramento State (9-20, 4-5), which runs Thursday through Saturday, UH plays at Pacific on April 10 and resumes WAC play with a three-game series at Fresno State April 13 to 15.

There weren't many highlights for the Rainbows, who lost 2 of 3 to San Jose State over the weekend. But some promising things happened: