It was tale of two teams heading in opposite directions.

Despite squandering a three-run lead in the ninth, Steve Susdorf's two-out, two-run single in the top of the 10th inning saved Fresno State in a 7-5 win against Hawai'i last night in Western Athletic Conference baseball.

It happened before the second declared sellout at Les Murakami Stadium with 4,581 tickets issued, but the turnstile count was 3,484, three shy of the highest turnout this season.

The loss means the Rainbows (31-23 overall, 9-13 WAC) cannot finish better than fifth for seeding purposes for this week's WAC tournament. And they need to win one of the next two to assure they don't finish sixth. Sacramento State is 10-14, but if it ties with UH, the Rainbows have the tie-breaker by virtue of winning two of three earlier in the season.

It was another frustrating loss for the Rainbows, who have dropped six consecutive conference games.

"We weren't ready, we weren't focused," UH coach Mike Trapasso said. "That was the game, the first three innings we played."

Worse was a wasted effort from seldom-used reliever Jeff Soskin, who settled the game down for four innings. But after getting the first two outs in the 10th, Erik Wetzel and Steve Detwiler singled to put runners at first and second. Closer Tyler Davis was called in, but his first pitch was wild, moving the runners up, before walking Brian Lapin to load the bases to set up Susdorf's two-run single that went up the middle.

"Soskin pitched great," Trapasso said. "He deserved a better fate. That's why I feel bad for him. He came in and did a nice job."

Unfortunately for Soskin, the first decision of his UH career was a loss. He gave up two runs, four hits and a walk with two strikeouts in four innings.

"I just didn't get the job done," Davis said. "I just have forget about it and just come out tomorrow and be ready to go."

Meanwhile, it was another notch for the Bulldogs (32-25, 17-5), who clinched the top seed and regular-season title before last night's game because of San Jose State's win over second-place Nevada earlier in the day.

"It was definitely important to keep winning, to stay on a roll going into the tournament so that we can win the tournament," Susdorf said.

Jason Breckley (3-1) pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings, stranding the winning run on third in the ninth and adding a scoreless 10th for the Bulldogs.

The Rainbows scored three in the ninth to tie the game at 5. With two outs, Eli Christensen walked and scored on Jon Hee's double. Brandon Burke was lifted for Brandon Miller, who gave up an RBI single to pinch hitter Kevin Macdonald that made it 5-4. Justin Frash's triple to right tied the game at 5. Miller was yanked for Breckley, who got Brandon Haislet to ground out to him to send the game into extra innings.

Fresno State made short work of UH starter Ian Harrington, who lasted just 2 2/3 innings, allowing four runs. Jayson Kramer added three innings, allowing a run.

Because the WAC tournament is just four days away, both starting pitchers were on pitch counts, the coaches said. Fresno State starter Clayton Allison went a predetermined three innings (or 60 pitches, which ever came first, FSU coach Mike Batesole said), allowing two runs. But Burke had held UH scoreless from the fourth through eighth innings before the Rainbows staged their comeback in the ninth, when he was charged with two of the three runs.

The series continues today at 1:05 p.m. Trapasso said he has moved up Mark Rodrigues to today, instead of Matt Daly.

KURISU HONORED

Hawaii Winter Baseball president Hervy Kurisu was presented the Chuck Leahey Award prior to last night's game. The award is presented to a person who perpetuates the sport of baseball. Kurisu helped in the revival of the league last winter.

Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at skaneshiro@honoluluadvertiser.com.