The first game of Hawaii’s final nonconference series of the year felt more like a regular-season opener.

Costly errors, blown calls, and subpar pitching resulted in an 8-7 victory for Valparaiso over the Rainbows last night in front of a Les Murakami Stadium crowd of 1,415.

Andrew Bain hit the go-ahead two-run double after Hawaii erased a five-run deficit, and Kyle Gaedele hit a three-run homer for the Crusaders (16-21), who won their 10th straight game.

The Rainbows put the tying runs on second and third with nobody out in the ninth. Zack Swasey doubled off the wall in right, but Kolten Wong was thrown out at the plate trying to score from second. Swasey advanced to third on the throw, but Michael Blake struck out to end the game.

Jon Gulbransen (4-5) struck out seven in 3 2⁄3 innings of relief to earn the victory.

Wong finished 4-for-4 and Sean Montplaisir went 2-for-4 with a triple and two RBIs.

Six different pitchers combined for eight walks as Hawaii (21-16) lost for just the second time in 11 games.

Junior Matt Sisto had his shortest outing of the season, giving up five runs before exiting with two outs in the second. Gaedele’s three-run homer put Valparaiso ahead 5-0 and Sisto was forced to leave two batters later with a full count. After Chris Manning fouled off a pitch, Sisto stepped off the mound and took a short walk behind the rubber before he was quickly pulled from the game.

Randy Yard kept the game from getting out of reach, tossing 3 2⁄3 scoreless innings to give the Rainbows a chance to scratch their way back from a five-run deficit.

Breland Almadova chopped a ground ball deep in the hole at short for an infield hit to score Sean Montplaisir, who singled with two outs in the second.

UH tacked on a second run in the third as Wong scored on a passed ball after leading off with a single and stealing second. The stolen base was Wong’s 15th, which leads the Western Athletic Conference.

Hawaii took the lead in a bizarre sixth inning, sending nine men to the plate. After Swasey reached base on an error, Collin Bennett reached base on a throwing error that first base umpire Kent Tsutsumi ruled pulled the first baseman off the bag. After a lengthy argument by Valparaiso coach Tracy Woodson, Sean Montplaisir delivered a two-run triple to cut the lead to 5-4. Two batters later, Almadova laid a bunt down the first base line that scored Montplaisir, but Almadova was ruled out at first, which was protested by Hawaii coach Mike Trapasso.

Wong beat out an infield chopper to score Garrett Champion and push UH in front, but the Crusaders answered in the seventh on a sacrifice fly by Corey Thibault that scored Robbie Robinson to even the game at 6-all.

After an error by Wong allowed Michael Morman to reach base, Bain smacked a two-run double under the glove of Almadova in center, putting the Crusaders up 8-6.

Alex Capaul (1-2) took the loss, allowing two runs and three hits in one inning.

Bennett started his first game at third base and finished 0-for-4 with a run scored.

The series continues tonight at 6:35. Freshman Jarrett Arakawa (4-2, 3.44) will oppose Valparaiso starter Damon McCormick (2-5, 4.22).