RENO, Nev. — It was sort of a mixed emotion kind of day for the Hawai'i baseball team.

The fifth-seeded Rainbows survived for another day of the double-elimination Western Athletic Conference baseball tournament yesterday by eliminating sixth-seeded Sacramento State, 19-7, in a contest mercifully ending after seven innings thanks to the 10-run differential rule.

Hawai'i (34-24) will play Nevada at noon today. In last year's tournament, the Wolf Pack handed the Rainbows their first loss in the second game. But UH survived the losers' bracket and eliminated the Wolf Pack. If the Rainbows win today, they play again at 4 p.m.

Meanwhile, the sixth-seeded Sacramento State Hornets (17-40) was the first team eliminated.

"It wasn't pretty, but the main objective was to stay alive and play tomorrow," UH coach Mike Trapasso said. "We were fortunate to have such a good offensive outing."

The disappointment, though, was that recent graduate Mark Rodrigues could not take advantage of the run support, as he fell five outs shy of qualifying for his 10th victory. He allowed five runs and 11 hits in 3 1/3 innings.

"I wanted him to stay in five innings to get his 10th win as much as anybody, but the opportunity to end that at seven innings and save some pitching, well, they were hitting him too well," Trapasso said. "He wasn't locating. He was flat and he didn't have much today."

Junior right-hander Cameron Wheeler (1-0) made the most of the situation by giving up two runs in the final 3 2/3 innings to get credit for his first decision of his UH career.

The blowout helped the Rainbows keep their primary relievers fresh for today. Trapasso said either right-hander Joshua Schneider or left-hander Nick Rhodes will start.

Meanwhile, it was a field day for everyone in the starting lineup. Each had at least one hit and scored at least one run. Leading the 20-hit barrage was Landon Hernandez, who drove in five runs on a two-run double when UH sent 13 batters up in a nine-run second inning and a three-run homer in the seventh. It was his third home run of the season.

Senior shortstop Eli Christensen returned to the lineup by batting 3 for 4 with a two-run home run, four RBIs and four runs. He was robbed of a fourth hit when right fielder Montana Dye made a diving catch of a line drive. Christensen has missed the previous two games, as well as most of a third back in Hawai'i against Fresno State, because of problems with his throwing arm.

"I felt fine," Christensen said. "You don't necessarily have to play to keep your swing on. I've been working hard at keeping my swing up to par."

Christensen increased his batting average to .335.

Freshman Kevin Macdonald also drove in four runs, batting 3 for 5. He had a two-run double in a four-run third.

Junior Jon Hee and freshman Vinnie Catricala also had three hits each.

It wasn't pretty for Sacramento State starter Alvaro Orozco (5-6), who was tagged for nine runs (seven earned) in 1 1/3 innings

The Hornets had 17 hits in their season finale with reserve catcher Brett Tanigawa, a Moanalua High graduate, leading the way by batting 4 for 4 with an RBI.

"It was a lot of luck," Tanigawa said. "I felt a little nervous because it was (against) the hometown team. Everything fell in place for me today."

If the Rainbows are to live another day, it will mean a doubleheader today. The sophomore catcher Hernandez, an ironman all season having started in 54 of the team's 58 games, has not missed a beat offensively despite playing a position associated with fatigue. He is batting .294 with 32 RBIs.

"I'm good to go," Hernandez said of possibly having to catch two games today.

FRESNO STATE 4, LOUISIANA TECH 2

The top-seeded Bulldogs got a strong pitching performance from Justin Wilson to eliminate third-seeded Louisiana Tech (35-24) yesterday.

Wilson (8-5) went six innings, allowing two runs on six hits and three walks with five strikeouts for FSU (34-27). Brandon Burke added three scoreless innings of three-hit ball for his fifth save.

SAN JOSE STATE 5, NEVADA 1

Steven Vidal pitched 6 1/3 strong innings and Marcus McKimmy drove in three runs to lead the fourth-seeded Spartans (34-24) over the host and second-seeded Wolf Pack (33-25).

Vidal (6-4) allowed a run on five hits and a walk with two strikeouts. Loren Moneypenny added 1 2/3 scoreless innings of relief and Corey Cabral pitched a perfect ninth to finish off the Wolf Pack. San Jose State's Chris Balatico (Mililani) went 0 for 3.

Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at skaneshiro@honoluluadvertiser.com.