In a game of fortune and frustration, Hawai'i scratched out a 2-1 win against Georgia Southern yesterday to take two of three in the nonconference series.

Despite being out-hit 10-3, the Rainbows (4-2) got clutch pitching and fielding to neutralize threats by the Eagles (1-2) before 960 at Les Murakami Stadium.

"We have to practice hard this week because when you get out-hit 10 to 3, most of the time, you're going to lose these games," UH coach Mike Trapasso said. "We were fortunate to be able to get some outs on the mound and defensively."

The Eagles, who out-hit the Rainbows 33-21 in the series, stranded 13 runners yesterday, seven in scoring position.

"It's one you look back at and feel like you let get away," Eagles coach Rodney Hennon said.

Georgia Southern freshman right-hander Brian Wilkerson (0-1) had a no-hitter with two outs in the sixth inning. But Justin Frash lined a single to left and took second when Brandon Haislet grounded a single up the middle. Then the hot-hitting Kris Sanchez drilled a 1-1 fastball down the right-field line for a two-run double to break the scoreless deadlock.

"Once I got into little bit of an advantage count, I hunted fastball, got a pitch and was able to put it down the line for a double," said Sanchez, who was 7 for 11 with three doubles, a triple and seven RBIs in the series.

"He hurt us all weekend," Hennon said.

It was the only inning UH had consecutive batters reach base. They had two runners on in the fourth on walks. With two outs and a runner at second, Sanchez ran a 2-0 count before being put on intentionally. The move paid off when Evan Zimny grounded to first to end the inning.

But the damage was done to Wilkerson, who went six innings and struck out two. He frustrated UH hitters by inducing nine air outs.

"His fastball and changeup looked a lot a like," Frash said. "We were getting good swings off, but they weren't falling. We were aggressive, which is good, but we were hitting too many fly balls."

Eight of the air outs were routine, except for a deep drive to right-center by Sanchez that was hauled in by center fielder Matt Miller in the second inning.

A.J. Battista added two perfect innings for the Eagles.

Right-hander Josh Schneider, a transfer from Cochise JC, made his starting debut for UH with five scoreless innings, scattering six hits and two walks with four strikeouts. He escaped a two-out bases-loaded jam in the second, in which UH was really fortunate. With runners at first and second, Brian Pierce hit a grounder near shortstop but the ball hit third base umpire Mike Evans, deflecting to shallow center. Pierce got a single, but the ball is ruled dead once it hit the umpire, so A.J. Wirnsberger, who had scored from second, had to return to third. Chris Hollis flied out to left to end the threat.

"I felt all my stuff was working," said Schneider, who threw 86 pitches. "I was able to hit spots."

Tyler Davis (1-0) gave UH its second consecutive four-inning relief stint, allowing a run and four hits with one strikeout. He was supported by great defense to battle out of jams.

With runners on first and third and one out in the seventh, Griffin Benedict hit a foul fly toward the fence behind third base. Left fielder Jorge Franco made the catch after a long run in what turned out to be a sacrifice fly for the Eagles' only run.

In the eighth, the Eagles had runners at the corners with two outs when Jeremy Beckham hit a hard grounder up the middle that shortstop Eli Christensen smothered and turned into a force at second to end the inning.

"That play Eli made for us in the eighth was huge," Davis said. "That won the game for us."

Although the Rainbows were fortunate that they had only one good inning of offense, they know there is a balance when it comes to contributions over the long haul. They saw it Thursday when UH scored 11 runs, but lost. Yesterday, it was the pitching and defense that carried the Rainbows.

"That's our job," Davis said. "Any time the offense is struggling, the pitching has to step up and vice versa. The other night, we weren't throwing very well but the offense kept coming back and striking and giving us a chance to win, so it was our turn to pick 'em up today."

Next up for UH is Pacific (0-2). Former Rainbow Isaac Kamai is a relief pitcher for the Tigers. The three-game series starts Friday.

Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at skaneshiro@honoluluadvertiser.com.