Zack Swasey and Breland Almadova helped make the start of Hawaii’s final Western Athletic Conference season memorable.

Hawaii’s six and seven hitters drove in a combined six runs, including four in the seventh to turn Hawaii’s 8-2 win over Fresno State on Thursday night into a rout.

A Les Murakami Stadium crowd of 2,000 watched the Rainbows (18-12, 1-0) put together their third-highest scoring output of the season to win their conference opener for the fifth time in the last six years.

Even more impressive is it came against Fresno State ace Tyler Linehan, who started the game with a 1.47 ERA, trailing only Hawaii’s Jarrett Arakawa in the WAC.

By the time it was over, Linehan (3-3) was rocked for all eight runs — seven earned — on 12 hits in 6⅓ innings.

"You’ve got to keep it in perspective because it’s only one of 18 (games) … but it’s a good start for us," Hawaii coach Mike Trapasso said.

Designated hitter Trevor Podratz went 3-for-4 with a double and two runs scored and Pi‘ikea Kitamura singled and scored twice for UH, which blew the game open with five runs in the seventh.

Hawaii loaded the bases without a ball getting out of the infield, as the Bulldogs (14-15, 0-1) misplayed two consecutive bunts. Podratz put UH up 4-2 with an RBI single and Almadova hit a two-run single to give the Rainbows a four-run lead. Linehan stayed in the game to face Swasey, who blasted a double to the gap in left-center that rolled all the way to the wall, allowing both Podratz and Almadova to score.

"We knew Fresno was going to keep their best guy out there," said Almadova, who is hitting .417 (5-for-12) with three runs and four RBIs batting sixth in the lineup. "My mind-set was to find a way to get on base and make him throw more mistakes."

Senior Matt Sisto struggled through the three first innings before settling down to retire eight straight at one point.

He tied a career high with a fifth win, allowing two runs on six hits in six innings with two walks and six strikeouts.

"I was kind of out of the groove the first couple of innings — my mechanics were a little bit off — and came in and talked to (coach Chad Konishi) and got it straightened out," Sisto said. "I didn’t want to go to the bullpen in the fourth inning in the first game of the series and it saved our pitching and we got a full bullpen with Jarrett going tomorrow."

Freshman David Longville worked the final three scoreless innings, allowing a hit and a walk, to become UH’s fourth pitcher to earn a save this year.

"I thought we had gotten the most out of Matt that we probably could for 100 pitches," Trapasso said. "To his credit, he didn’t want to come out because that’s the type of competitor he is, but David has been good for us all year and it worked out for us tonight."

Fresno State scored first. Pat Hutcheson led off the game drawing just the fourth free pass issued by Sisto in 49 innings.

After stealing both second and third, Hutcheson scored on an RBI double by Aaron Judge.

The Rainbows responded with two in the second inning, forcing Linehan to throw 38 pitches in the inning.

Podratz hit a leadoff double that one-hopped the wall in right field. He then moved to third on a groundout by Collin Bennett.

Almadova drew an eight-pitch walk to put runners at the corners for Swasey, who hit a line-drive single to center to drive in Podratz.

Max Duval drew the second of three walks in the inning and Stephen Ventimilia, who singled in the first, worked a free pass on a 3-2 pitch to bring in Almadova for a 2-1 UH lead.

Hawaii nearly added to its lead on a pop up by Kaeo Aliviado behind the bag at third, forcing Justin Charles to make a tough catch to end the inning.

The Bulldogs evened the score on a sacrifice fly by Trent Garrison, who was robbed of a hit by a diving Almadova in center. Justin Luplow was doubled off at first, but not before Hutcheson tagged up from third to tie the game.

Almadova gave the Rainbows the lead in the fifth, singling in Kitamura with two outs. The Bulldogs avoided further damage when Judge threw out Podratz trying to score on the play.

The series continues tonight at 6:35 with Arakawa (3-2, 1.32) getting the start for the Rainbows.

HAWAII 8, FRESNO STATE 2