Derek Benny pitched five strong innings of relief and Bobby Coyle drove in three runs to lead Fresno State over Hawai'i, 8-5, today in the first game of a Western Athletic Conference doubleheader at Les Murakami Stadium.

Benny (1-2) allowed two runs, five hits and two walks with three strikeouts for the Bulldogs (19-12 overall, 2-0 WAC) in taking a 2-0 lead in the four-game series.

Zach Gallagher (3-2) went six-plus innings, allowing seven runs (six earned), 10 hits and a walk with five strikeouts for the Rainbows (16-14, 0-2).

Coyle went 2 for 5 with a two-run double and Jordan Ribera hit a two-run home run, his 13th homer of the season.

Christian Johnson wned 2 for 3 with three RBI for the Rainbows. He had a two-run home run and RBI double.

The Bulldogs jumped to a 1-0 lead in the first. Danny Muno reached first on third baseman Josh Chevalier's fielding error to start the inning. An out later, Muno stole second and scored on Coyle's single to right.

Hawai'i took the lead for the first time in the series in the second. With two out, Jeffrey Van Doornum singled to right and took second on right fielder Steve Detwiler's fielding error Johnson then homered to left-center.

Fresno State regained the lead in the third. Muno and Brennan Gowen Gowens hit successive singles with two outs and both scored on Coyle's double to right to give FSU a 3-2 lead. Ribera then ripped a two-run home run to right to make it 5-2. It was his 13th home run of the season.

The Rainbows got one of the runs back in the bottom of the third. Matt Rouqemore led off with a single and took second when Greg Garcia grounded out to third. Kolten Wong beat out a grounder to short for a single that moved Roquemore to third, where he scored on David Freitas' sacrifice fly to center.

The Bulldogs added a run in the fourth to increase their lead to 6-3.Trent Garrison led off with a double to center and went to third on Garrett Weber's single to right. Detwiler reached first on a fielder's choice when he grounded to short for a force at second that scored Garrison.

Fresno State kept the scoring going in the fifth. Gowens led off with a single and an out later, stole second. Another out later, Gowens scored on Dusty Robinson's double to left to make it 7-3.

Hawai'i had to settle for one run in the fifth despite loading the bases wiith no out. Garcia led off with a walk and went to second when Wong walked. Freitas reached on a single to third to load the bases, but Bennett grounded to short for a double play that scored Garcia to make it 6-4.

The Bulldogs in the eighth. Robinson led off with a triple to right and one out later, scored on Weber's single that deflected off the pitcher toward shortstop to make it 8-4.

Hawai'i pulled to within three in the eighth. With two outs, Van Doornum singled and scored on Johnson's double to left-center.