Five Hawai'i pitchers combined on a four-hitter to beat New Mexico State, 5-1, tonight to earn a split of a doubleheader, but take three of the four-game Western Athletic Conference series at Les Murakami Stadium.

New Mexico State won the first game, 9-3.

Alex Bates, a JC transfer, made his debut in his first start for UH (16-21 overall, 8-8 WAC). He allowed a hit and a walk with three strikeouts in two innings. Cory Kahn followed with 3 1/3 scoreless innings, allowing a hit and a walk with a strikeout. Sam Spangler went two-thirds of an inning without allowing a run, but Alex Capaul allowed a run in two innings. Jayson Kramer pitched a scoreless ninth in a non-save situation. Kahn (2-0) got credit for the victory.

Starter Tyler Sturdevant (4-3) deserved a better fate, allowing three runs, but only on earned because of two errors, four hits and five walks with three strikeouts in six innings for the Aggies (16-19, 7-9).

The Rainbows took a 2-0 lead without the benefit of a hit in the second inning, thanks to an error, a hit batsman, three walks and two wild pitches. Jeff Van Doornum reached on a two-base throwing error by third baseman Marcus Quade. Kevin Macdonald walked on four pitches and both runners advanced on a wild pitch with a 1-0 count on Vinnie Catricala, who walked to load the bases. The runners advanced when Greg Garcia grounded out to second on a check swing to give UH 1-0 lead. Another wild pitch scored Macdonald from third to make it 2-0.

Hawai'i got another gift inning in the sixth. Van Doornum walked to start the inning and took second when Macdonald reached on shortstop Richard Stout's error. Two foul outs later, Kevin Fujii reached on a bunt single to third to load the bases to set up Haislet's RBI walk to make it 3-0.

The Aggies finally got on the board in the eighth. Pinch hitter Matt Lopez led off with a single off Capaul and one out later, took second when Stout grounded out to second. Joseph Scaperotta singled to center to score Lopez to make it 3-1.

The Rainbows added two in the eighth. Catricala led off with a double to left and took third when Garcia grounded out to second and remained there when pinch hitter Shane Hoey bounced out to the pitcher. Haislet eas intentionally walked. Matt Roquemore's single to right scored Catricala, but right fielder Franky Busani let the ball get by him, allowing Haislet to score and Roquemore to take third.