Few — if anyone — expected the University of Hawaii baseball team to have a winning record seven games into this season, not with the first two series being against nationally ranked Oregon and Rice.

As UH coach Mike Trapasso says, "We’re not playing East Salami Baptist Tech."

But still winless?

It’s a strange 0-7, an encouraging one because it includes no blowouts.

But UH really let one get away Sunday against the Owls.

Hawaii was one strike away from victory. But Lawrence Chew was making his third straight relief appearance.

The sophomore left-hander threw 25 pitches in the eighth inning and Trapasso left him in for the ninth with a one-run lead.

It almost worked.

Those of us in the business of second-guessing wondered if freshman Quintin Torres-Costa was a consideration for the ninth.

Maybe on another day, but injuries and Friday’s 17-inning series opener have left the UH pitching like a gas tank that’s been on E for 15 miles already. You can expect to run out at any time, and anything you’ve got left you’d better use wisely.

Plus, Torres-Costa is coming off a not-so-stellar collegiate debut last week.

"Chew’s been in that situation," Trapasso said, but also conceded that, "It’s asking too much of our pitchers to go out there three days in a row."

As we saw, other remaining options weren’t attractive.

One strike away. But Keenan Cook hits the 3-2 fastball into left, and Skyler Ewing scores from third to tie it. Then Rice rides momentum and puts it away.

Ewing had walked to start the ninth, and got to third on a bunt and a flyball. So you have to love the Owls’ execution and grit.

The Rainbows have shown some of that, hanging tough against two of the best teams in college baseball.

But they’ve also been their own enemy too often.

Left-on-base is often a meaningless stat. Not on this day, though, when UH stranded 10. All five Rainbows runs came in the second inning, and despite Corey MacDonald’s strong mound effort after a shaky beginning, you knew that probably wouldn’t be enough. The Hawaii hitters knew it, but they didn’t string together enough offense to provide the insurance.

"We’ve got to keep scoring," senior third baseman Piikea Kitamura said. "It’s bearing down and getting the hit. The defense and pitching is coming around. But like I said, we gotta get the hit."

It’s been that way since the season started. The last four losses have all been by two runs, none of the seven defeats by more than four.

"We’re close," Trapasso said.

This was the most frustrating, because they had the lead and just one more strike.

But it’s progress, with a lot of hard lessons. Will they be lessons learned?

If they’re still losing games this way later in the season against lesser teams, then you question chemistry and heart. It’s still too early for that now. They’re battling.

"This will be a good team," Trapasso said. "Not probably. It will."

Reach Dave Reardon at dreardon@staradvertiser.com or 529-4783.