Kris Sanchez had the big blast, but pitcher Jayson Kramer came up with the big play as Hawai'i beat Pacific, 8-3, yesterday to complete a three-game baseball series sweep.

The Rainbows (7-2) won their fifth in a row before 1,253 at Les Murakami Stadium with the aid of Sanchez's fifth-inning solo shot to left-center, his third home run in as many games, and Kramer's difficult inning-ending double play when the Tigers had the go-ahead run at the plate with the bases loaded and one out in the top of the fifth.

"Probably the key to the game was the 3-6-1," UH coach Mike Trapasso said of the first-to-short-to-pitcher double play. "That was huge."

Hawai'i starter Josh Schneider took a 4-0 lead into the top of the fifth. Jeff Centanni reached on shortstop Eli Christensen's throwing error and took second when Greg Murray rolled out on a dribbler to the pitcher. Schneider hit Denis Hill then gave up an RBI double to Adam Ching, as the Tigers closed to 4-1.

Schneider hit Joe Oliveira with a pitch to load the bases. With the No. 3 hitter in the order up in the left-handed hitting Mike Walker, right-hander Kramer came in from the bullpen. On a 2-2 pitch, Walker pulled Kramer's outside fastball on the ground to first baseman Sanchez, who fired to Christensen, whose relay throw gave Kramer just enough time to get to first to complete the double play.

Kramer admitted to having trouble with the play at practice. The pitcher runs from the mound to first and takes the throw coming at his side.

"That's the play at practice I have the hardest time on," Kramer said. "After the double play was turned, oh, man, I was so happy. Eli did a great job. He held up for me, gave me time to step on the bag and then he made his throw."

Schneider didn't go the minimum five innings to get the win, his second no-decision in as many starts despite not allowing an earned run in 9 1/3 innings as a starter. He allowed the unearned run, three hits, two walks and two hit batsmen in 4 1/3 innings yesterday.

Kramer (1-0), a sophomore out of Mid-Pacific Institute, was credited with the win. He worked 2 2/3 innings, allowing two runs, four hits, a walk and a hit batter with one strikeout. It was his first collegiate decision. Left-hander Nick Rhodes finished with two scoreless innings in a non-save situation.

It was a better performance by the Rainbows compared to Saturday's 4-3 win that they nearly let get away by executing poorly and stranding 15 runners.

Yesterday, UH took a 4-0 lead and added two runs each in the fifth and sixth innings after the Tigers scored in the top half of those frames.

"I liked our demeanor today," Trapasso said. "Obviously, the key was the fifth and sixth. We had a four-run lead like yesterday, but when Pacific was able to score in both of those innings, we were able to come back in the bottom half and answer. That's what you gotta do. It shows you're locked in the whole time."

The Rainbows got a gift in the second. Sanchez reached on second baseman Ching's fielding error and, an out later, took third on Evan Zimny's single to right. Ching then apparently lost sight of Landon Hernandez's high pop behind second that dropped for an RBI single to give UH a 1-0 lead.

Hawai'i added three in the third on a sacrifice fly by Brandon Haislet, a fielding error by left fielder Brett Manning on Christensen's single and an RBI double by Zimny against Pacific starter Hunter Carnevale (1-1), who went three innings, allowing the four runs (three earned), six hits and two walks with three strikeouts.

After the Tigers scored in the fifth, Sanchez led off the bottom of the fifth with his home run.

"He's been pitching me off-speed and for whatever reason, came back with the fastball and I just reacted," Sanchez said.

Later in the inning, Ryan Asato squeezed home a run with runners at the corners and one out.

Hawai'i added two in the sixth on an RBI single by Zimny (3 for 5) and on third baseman Justin Baum's throwing error after an infield single by Hernandez (3 for 4).

Sanchez finished the series batting 5 for 13 with nine RBIs, giving him 19 for the season. He is batting .543 and has a 13-game hitting streak dating to last season. He is in the running for a third consecutive Western Athletic Conference Hitter of the week honor.

"Main thing today is we got the sweep," Sanchez said. "Individual awards, they come, great. It just means I'm helping the team win, so that's what I'm happy about."

Hernandez was 8 for 12 in the series to lift his batting average to .412, second highest on the team.

The Rainbows make their first road trip of the season with a three-game series at UC Santa Barbara starting Friday.

Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at skaneshiro@honoluluadvertiser.com.