By BRIAN TYNES

News Editor

Since joining the Western Athletic Conference four years ago, Tech's baseball team has not won its opening series of the conference season Ð until now.

The Diamond Dogs dropped the first game of a three-game series last Friday against the University of Hawaii Rainbows. The team rallied Saturday and Sunday to take the final two games at Les Murakami Stadium, all without junior pitcher Ryan Rupert, who had bursitis in his right shoulder.

Tech improved its record to 9-15 (2-1, WAC) and Hawaii fell to 13-12 (1-2 WAC).

Tech head coach Wade Simoneaux said a tough schedule equipped his team for WAC play.

"Our record isn't beautiful, but we've played the fourth toughest schedule in the country," Simoneaux said. "That prepared us for conference."

The Rainbows entered the series fresh off a sweep of then No. 3 Florida State, while the Bulldogs had taken two of three games from Nicholls State on the road.

Tech committed only three errors for the series, all in the first game.

Simoneaux said the errors were unavoidable because of the 'Bows offense.

"Our defense was outstanding all weekend," Simoneaux said. "Those errors were forced because of how well they put the ball in play. Artificial turf is hard to get used to when you don't play on it that much."

Hawaii had 12 hits in the opening contest and held a 2-1 lead at the close of the first inning.

After strong performances in his two previous starts, senior Mitch Tucker struggled on the mound for the Bulldogs, giving up two runs on three hits and was pulled before the close of the inning.

"His last two outings were good, but he just struggled," Simoneaux said. "He was put under pressure having to throw. I'm not concerned about him because I know he'll be back."

Tech regained a 4-2 lead in the second but surrendered the advantage in the bottom of the third when Rocky Russo doubled to left field to put the Rainbows up 5-4.

Hawaii added two more runs in the bottom of the fourth and took the game by a score of 8-6.

Senior Clayton Meyer took the mound Saturday in front of 4,500 fans on Kid's Day at the park and pitched seven scoreless innings to lead the Bulldogs to a 5-2 victory and even the series at one game apiece.

Simoneaux said Meyer's veteran leadership is important and the team benefited from not having to go to the bullpen.

"Clayton had the flu a couple weeks ago and still wasn't at full strength, but he still got a win," Simoneaux said. "He really helped us by not making us use a middle reliever."

Tech took a 1-0 lead in the top of the third when freshman Albie Goulder scored on a groundout to second by junior Matt Lacy.

Junior Ben Tabor and senior Gil Laird scored in the fourth to increase the lead. Laird scored again in the eighth on a double by junior Ryan Hamilton to give Tech a 5-0 lead.

Gregory Kish drove in two runs on a single for Hawaii in the bottom of the inning to complete the scoring.

The rubber game was a tale of two big innings.

The Rainbows struck a pot of gold in the sixth, scoring six runs, the second and third of which came on a Joseph Spiers double with one out. Two batters later, Spiers and Erik Ammon scored on an Isaac Omura triple to give the Rainbows a 6-1 lead.

Tech cut the lead to 6-3 in the seventh when Rich Olsen walked in a run.

Hawaii took the three-run advantage into the ninth but could not hold it, after two Rainbow pitchers hit Tech's first three batters.

Junior Mims Boyce scored the first run of a six-run ninth inning on a single by freshman Adam Cobb. Sophomore Brady Bascle singled through the right side and drove in two more runs to tie the game.

Tech took the lead when Goulder walked with the bases loaded, and Boyce drove in Laird on a sacrifice fly.

Junior pitcher Steve Alverson retired the last three Rainbows in order to clinch the series.

"This was a huge win," Simoneaux said. "Our guys really fought hard. Usually going 3-3 is good for a road trip, but we have to regroup and go play a tough San Jose State team that swept Rice this weekend. So we really have our work cut out for us.

"We hope to take at least two games from San Jose and come home no worse than 4-2 on this trip."

The Spartans have won nine of their last 10 games and have lost only four times this year at home.