Mike Economos batted 5 for 5 with five RBIs and five runs scored to lead Georgia Southern over Hawai'i, 13-11, Thursday night to take the opener of the nonconference series.

The Eagles (1-0) had a scare in their season opener as the Rainbows (2-2) scored two in the bottom of the ninth before leaving the tying run on second base. It was UH's second consecutive loss; it never lost more than two in a row all last season.

"It felt pretty good," Economos said. "In the five years I've been here — I'm a fifth-year senior — we've never won an opening game."

It was an uncharacteristic night for the Rainbows' pitching and fielding before a sparse crowd of 757 at Les Murakami Stadium. Starter Ian Harrington (1-1) lasted just 1 1/3 innings, allowing seven runs (five earned), seven hits and a walk with one strikeout, snapping a personal six-game win streak. The relievers, who are usually reliable in settling such games, also struggled, as Jayson Kramer gave up four runs in 5 2/3 innings and Tyler Davis gave up two in one inning. Only Cameron Wheeler went unscathed with a scoreless ninth.

The Rainbows also committed five errors, their most since they had six against Washington on March 4. Second baseman Nate Young had three of them.

Moreover, UH coach Mike Trapasso was ejected in the top of the seventh inning after arguing a play at first. Brian Pierce was ruled safe after a bunt when first base umpire Mike Evans ruled that Young bobbled the ball. Trapasso said he thought Young had a clean possession.

"First of all, give credit to Georgia Southern for all the work they did offensively," Trapasso said. "But that's about as bad an effort we've had coming out of the gate, pitching and defense-wise. That was a throw-your-glove-on-the-field, cruise-control-type of game, if I've ever seen one.

"You can't pitch the way we did and you can't make errors the way we played defensively ... our team defense is our strength, but you wouldn't know it by watching us today. It says five errors up there, but we made more like eight. The official scorekeeper had a bad night tonight."

Economos' two-run doubles highlighed a four-run first and three-run second inning. He also had two singles sandwiching his sixth-inning solo home run among the Eagles' 16 hits.

"He really came up big for us tonight," Eagles coach Rodney Hennon said. "He gave us a spark. Every time they put some runs on the board, we were fortunate to get them back."

Hawai'i's hitters did their best to stay in the game. Justin Frash was 3 for 4 with two RBIs, while Kris Sanchez and Landon Hernandez each drove in three runs. Brandon Haislet scored four runs, batting 2 for 3.

Hawai'i closed to 4-3 after the first, 10-8 after the fifth and 11-9 after the seventh. But the bullpen just didn't provide damage control.

"We battled offensively the whole game, but you're just not going to win when you pitch and play defensively the way we did," Trapasso said.

Charlie Strohecker (1-0) was credited with the win in relief, allowing two runs in 2 2/3 innings for starter Josh Lairsey, who gave up seven runs (four earned) in 4 1/3 innings.

A.J. Battisto pitched a scoreless eighth, but Kyle Kamppi labored in the ninth, giving up two runs and stranding the tying runner at second by striking out Matt Roquemore to end the game.

Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at skaneshiro@honoluluadvertiser.com.