Although Jayson Kramer, Matt Sisto and Harrison Kuroda didn't pitch yesterday, they were a factor in Hawai'i's 7-4 come-from-behind win against San Jose State yesterday.

Behind the fresh bullpen arms of Jesse Moore and Sam Spangler, the Rainbows were able to chip away at a 4-0 deficit to take the Western Athletic Conference series, 3-1, sending most of the 2,001 at Les Murakami Stadium home happy.

Hawai'i (19-10 overall, 3-1 WAC) shares the conference lead with Nevada and New Mexico State. The Spartans (20-8, 1-3) are tied with Louisiana Tech and Sacramento State. Defending conference and College World Series champion Fresno State (16-12) opens WAC play this week.

"We showed that — we know we lost yesterday — we were still able to come back and win," UH freshman center fielder Kolten Wong said. "To come away with a win against this team — it's a really good team; they could be at the top of the WAC — is a pretty good thing for us."

After freshman starting pitcher Connor Little struggled with command and lasted just 1 1/3 innings, Moore scattered two hits and a walk in three-plus scoreless innings and Spangler (5-0) finished the final 4 2/3, giving up no runs and five hits, while striking out one. He also benefitted from three of the team's four double plays.

The availability of the two relievers was made possible by Kramer's eight-inning start in Friday's 3-0 win, Sisto's seven-inning complete game loss in Saturday's second game of a doubleheader and Kuroda's 4 2/3 shutout relief innings in a 7-5 come-from-behind win in the opener of the twinbill.

"If Connor got in trouble, we knew right away we could go to Jesse, Sam, (Josh) Slaats or (Lenny) Linsky," UH coach Mike Trapasso said. "Connor had a hard time. I feel for him. No question, Kramer going eight innings Friday and Sisto giving us a CG last night helped rest the pen."

Said SJSU coach Sam Piraro: "I felt Hawai'i's bullpen, especially with guys (Jared Alexander in Saturday's first game and Little) coming out early this weekend, they did a really good job. They shut us down when they needed to."

Little was tagged for four runs, four hits and three walks that gave the Spartans a 4-0 lead in the top of the second. Moore stayed in until he got into trouble in the fifth when he walked a batter and gave up a single, giving way to Spangler. Wong made a diving catch of Jacob Bruns' drive to center, then got up and fired to second to double off the runner to end the inning.

"While I was diving, I saw the guy running toward third so I got up, tried throwing to second to get him out," Wong said.

Hawai'i's bullpen effectiveness would've been squandered had the offense not come up with timely hits once again. The momentum shift started in the bottom of the second inning, Piraro said.

With two outs, Landon Hernandez fouled off three pitches and drew a walk with an eight-pitch plate appearance. Sophomore Sean Montplaisir, making his 13th start of the season, drilled an 0-1 offering for a two-run home run to right to cut UH's deficit in half off SJSU starter Scott Sobczak.

"It was a curve ball low and in," Montplaisir said of his second career homer. "It seemed to be hanging a little bit, so I was able to stay back."

Piraro said the mistake was made against Hernandez.

"He had a good at-bat," Piraro said. "He fouled off several pitches; he earned his way to get on there. I was disappointed in that we over-pitched him. If (Hernandez) hits it out, it's 4-1 and the rally is done and you move on. By walking him, the way the park played this weekend (wind blowing hard toward right), that's where the action was. We put ourselves in a position for that to happen and that's when the momentum changed."

Added Trapasso: "Montplaisir's home run was big, cutting the lead in half. Now we're in striking distance with seven innings to go."

Hernandez took advantage of the wind with a solo homer to right-center to pull UH to 4-3 in the fourth.

"I think it's just getting off better swings," Hernandez said of his fourth homer of the season after starting the season with nine in the first three seasons of his UH career.

The Rainbows staged their rally with a three-run fifth that was ignited by a rare SJSU error when shortstop Kyle Bellows couldn't come up with Matt Roquemore's grounder. Greg Garcia's double to left-center put runners at second and third. Sobczak (4-1) was pulled for closer Anthony Vega.

With the infield playing in, Ryan Morford bounced out to Vega, freezing the runners. Vinnie Catricala was intentionally walked, but Kevin Macdonald's two-run single gave UH a 5-4 lead and put runners at the corners. Wong's single to short made it 6-4.

The Rainbows cushioned their lead in the seventh when Macdonald doubled with two outs and scored on Wong's single against Tyler Heil.

Hawai'i leaves for a road trip today. It plays a single game at Santa Clara, 3:05 p.m. tomorrow, before heading to Nevada for a WAC series.