For a brief period yesterday the rain subsided long enough for Hawai'i to practice for its three-game baseball series with San Jose State starting tonight to resume Western Athletic Conference play.

"We were just starting to take our BP (batting practice) on the field when it started raining," UH coach Mike Trapasso said. "But we were able to get some defensive work in, which is what I really wanted."

The Rainbows (22-8 overall, 0-2 WAC) will need to be at their best on defense because they will face the always fundamentally sound Spartans (19-10, 2-1). Coach Sam Piraro, who reached the 600-win milestone earlier this month, brings a team that leads all WAC teams with a .983 fielding percentage, 14 points better than the next team, Fresno State. Last season, the Spartans were second in the nation in fielding at .978.

"They play absolutely phenomenal defense," Trapasso said. "So they're not going to make a mistake and their pitching has been outstanding."

The series will match the top two pitching staffs in terms of earned run average. The Spartans lead with a 3.54 with the Rainbows right behind at 3.55.

Tonight's game will feature two starting pitchers among the top 10 in the WAC. The Spartans will start senior left-hander Branden Dewing (5-2, 1.22), who has three complete games and two shutouts in eight starts.

"This year, he has turned it up a notch," Trapasso said. "His numbers are absolutely ridiculous. He's been outstanding."

UH will counter with Steven Wright (4-2, 3.02), who missed a start because of a rainout Sunday against UC Santa Barbara. But he did log in two innings of relief Monday for a save.

Although the Spartans will be without first baseman Brandon Fromm because a wrist injury, they still have preseason all-WAC outfielder Ryan Angel, who leads the team with seven doubles and 18 runs, and is second with 15 RBIs.

San Jose State is hot. It took 2 of 3 from Louisiana Tech last weekend, the same Bulldogs who took 2 of 2 from UH two weeks ago.

"You're looking at a club that's playing very well," Trapasso said.

Meanwhile, the Rainbows are hopeful of the return of infielder Jon Hee, who has been out since suffering a subluxed left shoulder on March 10 against Western Illinois. Hee said last night he is scheduled to see his physician today. If Hee is cleared, he will play third base with Justin Frash moving to designated hitter, Trapasso said.

Also, Trapasso said he will switch tomorrow's starter Ian Harrington with Sunday's starter Justin Costi. Costi has been displaying fastball command to complement his breaking pitches, resulting in four consecutive wins. Costi has started in both of UH's shutouts.

"Costi has been throwing very well lately at night so we're going to let him throw the night game," Trapasso said.

NOTES

The Spartans have one player from Hawai'i in junior outfielder Chris Balatico (Mililani 2003), who also doubles as a left-handed relief pitcher. Balatico transferred after playing two seasons at Hartnell College.

Four Spartans spent their summer here. Catcher Justin Santich-Hughes, outfielder Ryan Angel, first baseman Brandon Fromm and infielder Nick Epidendio played in the inaugural season of the Hawai'i Collegiate Baseball League.

SJSU coach Sam Piraro is in his 19th season with a 606-453-6 career record.

Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at skaneshiro@honoluluadvertiser.com.