Mark Rodrigues pitched his best outing in a while to help Hawai'i-Manoa beat UH-Hilo, 7-2, yesterday to complete the three-game, non-conference series sweep at Wong Stadium in Hilo.

But more importantly the Rainbows (31-19) showed the kind of poise they will need in the coming weeks if they expect to extend their season into June. After taking the first two games of the series handily, the Rainbows faced a team that was hungry for a win in its final game of the season. Moreover, the Vulcans (12-35-1) had one of their better pitchers starting in Lars Knepper and a tight ballgame early.

"We hit some adversity where they tie the game up and they're hootin' and hollerin' over there," UH coach Mike Trapasso said. "It's the World Series to them. We get some tough calls by the umpires and that little time we could've fallen into that trap, worrying about things we don't have control over. But we showed the toughness to not worry about those things, showed some poise and just worried about the things we have control over."

The Rainbows snapped a 2-all game in the top of the fifth after Jon Hee reached on shortstop Shane Kessel's fielding error and scored on Derek DuPree's double. They added insurance in the sixth with Hee's two-run single with two outs and two more in the ninth on Justin Frash's two-run home run.

Meanwhile, Rodrigues (8-2) was effective in his seven innings — his longest stint since going seven against Wisconsin-Milwaukee March 17 — allowing two runs and six hits with three strikeouts.

"He was solid," Trapasso said. "Still not at his best as we've seen him early in the year, but he was throwing strikes and was able to mix pitches and he was better than he's been his last four, five starts, so I was happy with that."

With a 5-2 lead entering the eighth, Trapasso brought in closer Tyler Davis, who allowed a lead-off single to David Chu, but retired the next six in a row, striking out three, for his fourth save.

Knepper (3-8) gave up five runs (four earned), six hits and a walk and struck out eight in six innings for the Vulcans, who ended their season having dropped their final eight games.

Trapasso was impressed with the junior right-hander, who transferred from Bellevue (Wash.) Community College, the same school that produced Rainbow pitchers Ian Harrington and Craig Johnson.

"Johnson was one of their starters and Knepper didn't pitch that much," Trapasso said. "I'm looking at (Knepper) today and thinking, 'Doggone, we missed on this guy.' He was outstanding. He's very good. He's got a very good slider."

Kris Sanchez had a two-run triple in the first off Knepper to give UH the early lead, only to have the Vulcans chip away with RBI-singles from Ronel Trias in the second and Robby Mowers in the third to tie the game at 2.

The Rainbows resume Western Athletic Conference play next weekend at Nevada before returning home to play Fresno State.

Yesterday was the last college game for five Vulcan seniors: Catcher Ryan Taiariol, infielder Jon Vitale and outfielders Chu, Mowers and Kaiana Trask. Chu was 3 for 4 with a triple in his final game, while Mowers was 2 for 4.