SURPRISE, Ariz. — Playing catchup in baseball is tough, but playing catchup against one of the nation's best teams is next to impossible, as the University of Hawai'i found out yesterday.

Eighth-ranked Michigan jumped to a 7-2 lead in the fourth inning in the Coca-Cola Classic and kept the Rainbows' bats quiet en route to an 11-5 win.

It didn't get any better for Hawai'i (5-6) in the second game as Portland pounded out 21 hits in a 15-8 victory.

Michigan (4-2) surged ahead on Nate Recknagel's two-run homer in the first inning and Jason Christian's bases-clearing triple in the fourth to chase UH freshman starter Alex Capaul (0-3). The comfortable lead allowed Michigan starter Chris Fetter (1-0) to rely on his fastball to silence Hawai'i's offense for the majority of the game.

"(Fetter) was able to command his fastball. When you've got a (five-run) lead you've just got to force contact," said Hawai'i coach Mike Trapasso. "It's a lot easier to pitch when you're up by (five)."

The Rainbows found themselves down 11-2 after Derek VanBuskirk belted a three-run double in a four-run seventh to make it 11-2.

Hawai'i responded with two runs in the eighth on RBI hits from pinch hitters Evan Zimny and Kevin Fujii. In the ninth, UH freshman shortstop Greg Garcia hit a solo home run to cap a 3-for-4 day. Matt Roquemore and Jon Hee each added two hits for the 'Bows.

Trapasso noted the efforts of players such as Garcia as bright spots for his youthful squad.

"(The younger players) are starting to understand that you're going to have peaks and valleys but if you keep an even keel, you're going to be able to respond," he said.

Trapasso was also pleased with the third pitcher he used, Sam Spangler, who allowed two hits in 2 1/3 scoreless innings.

In the afternoon game, Hee batted 4 for 5 and Vinnie Catricala added three hits and three RBIs for the Rainbows, who trailed 12-0 after five innings.

Riley Henricks had four hits and five RBIs for Portland.