Those add-on runs proved costly at the end.

San Francisco sent 13 batters to the plate in a seven-run sixth inning to bury Hawai'i, 11-3, yesterday and salvage a split of the non-conference collegiate baseball four-game series.

A Les Murakami Stadium gathering of 720 watched the longest game of the series at 3 hours, 41 minutes, not including a four-minute rain delay. Every game of the series exceeded three hours.

That's how long it seemed when the Dons (2-2) strung seven consecutive hits to start the sixth against the Rainbows (4-3).

Freshman right-hander Alex Capaul (0-2) pitched well in four of his five-plus innings. He gave up six runs, eight hits and a walk with five strikeouts. He departed in the sixth after giving up a two-run home run to Matt Lieb that opened the Dons' lead to 6-1.

"Second (start) he's lights out the first three innings," UH coach Mike Trapasso said. "(But) when he gets in a jam, he's not able to stop the bleeding. That will come with experience and maturity."

Established veterans Jayson Kramer and Josh Schneider couldn't temper USF any better after Capaul was pulled in the sixth, combining to give up four runs, four hits and three walks while each recording one out in the inning.

"We go to a couple experienced guys who have done well for us and they can't get anybody out," Trapasso said. "It's really the add-on runs that ended that game for us. If we finish that sixth with a three spot, it's 6 to 1 and we're still in striking distance. It's really the add-on runs that cost us there."

Ironically, it was a pitcher with the fewest career innings of the four used by UH who was most effective. Junior right-hander Harrison Kuroda allowed a run, two hits and two walks with five strikeouts in 3 1/3 innings. He entered the game with 2 1/3 innings dating to last year.

"Harry did a nice job," Trapasso said. "He came in and threw strikes."

Otherwise, the day belonged to the Dons. Brian Anderson (1-0) overcame a 36-pitch first inning, when he allowed his only run in five-plus innings. In fact, the Rainbows scored the run by putting the ball in play once, and that was a 50-foot bunt single by Brandon Haislet to load the bases. Anderson struck out two in a row before walking Kevin Macdonald to force in the run. He then struck out Landon Hernandez to leave the bases loaded.

The closest UH came to scoring again against Anderson was in the fourth when Hernandez was gunned down at the plate, trying to score from second on Greg Garcia's single to right.

Hawai'i threatened again in the sixth, when Vinnie Catricala led off with a double and Macdonald walked. Anderson was pulled for Joe Oropeza, who got Hernandez on a fly to left before allowing a single to Evan Zimny to load the bases. But Oropeza struck out Garcia and got Jon Hee on a grounder to short, as UH left the bases loaded again.

Haislet hit his first homer of the season, a solo shot to left-center off Oropeza in the seventh. The Rainbows added a run in the ninth on an RBI single by Catricala, who was 3 for 5.

It was a needed comeback for the Dons, who lost the first two games of the series. They had strong starting pitching in Saturday's second game of the doubleheader and yesterday and their batters schooled UH's freshmen starting pitchers in both.

"We were really disappointed in the way we played the first two games," USF coach Nino Giarratano said. "It was good today to come out and see us play like this. We had strong back-to-back performances by (Saturday starter Matt) Baugh and Anderson and we were swinging the bats a little better today.

"A split was good for us. We played a good team. (The Rainbows) are going to be good. To leave here 2-2, we feel good after starting 0-2. It's huge emotionally for us."

Lieb led USF's 14-hit attack by batting 2 for 4 with four RBIs.

It's a short week for both teams. The Dons play a single game at Sacramento State tomorrow and then visit UC Irvine on the weekend.

The Rainbows will leave tomorrow for Arizona to play in the Coca-Cola Classic. The four-team tournament features nationally ranked Michigan (No. 8 by Baseball America), Arizona State (No. 9) and Portland.

Hawai'i opens Thursday with Portland and takes on ASU on Friday. On Saturday, UH will play Michigan and Portland again in a doubleheader.

Although some of the games will be played at ASU, UH's games are scheduled to be played in Surprise Stadium, the spring training grounds for the Kansas City Royals.

Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at skaneshiro@honoluluadvertiser.com.