Hawaii learned Saturday the margin of error playing in the Houston College Classic is very small.

A ninth-inning rally came up just short as the Rainbow Warriors left the tying run on second in a 4-3 loss to Nebraska at Minute Maid Park.

J.J. Kitaoka hit a three-run double off Nebraska closer Josh Roeder with two outs to pull Hawaii (6-9) within a run, but was stranded on second when Colton Howell struck out Jordan Richartz to end it.

Kitaoka’s hit could have given Hawaii the lead if not a for his two-out error in the fifth inning that allowed Nebraska (7-5) to score twice.

The Cornhuskers added two more runs in the eighth. Reliever Andrew Jones hit Ben Miller with a pitch and pinch runner Jake Placzek scored on a fielder’s choice that should have been an inning-ending double play. Shortstop Jacob Sheldon-Collins couldn’t make the transfer at second to throw to first and Placzek scored.

"If you’re not going to hit for eight innings, you’ve got to take care of the baseball and play perfect defensively to give yourself a chance," Hawaii coach Mike Trapasso said in a phone conversation. "While the mistakes defensively will take over as the focal point of the game, the reality is for eight innings we did zero offensively."

Hawaii loaded the bases with two out in the first inning and failed to score, and did so again with one out in the fifth when Nebraska starter Kyle Kubat struck out Kitaoka and Eric Ramirez consecutively.

Kubat (2-0) walked Kaeo Aliviado with one out in the seventh to put runners on first and second and was pulled for reliever Jeff Chesnut, who immediately got Kitaoka to hit into a double play.

Hawaii had five hits through eight innings when Roeder came on to close the game out for Nebraska.

Catcher Chayce Ka‘aua drew a leadoff walk and third baseman Alex Sawelson singled down the left-field line for his second hit of the game.

Roeder struck out pinch hitter Matt LoCoco on three pitches before Sheldon-Collins dumped a single into right field for his third hit to load the bases.

Aliviado, hitting leadoff for the second straight game, popped out to shallow center for the second out before Kitaoka’s hit made it a one-run game.

Nebraska brought in Howell, who intentionally walked Ramirez after falling behind 3-0.

Richartz, who had doubled earlier in the game, fell behind 0-2 before striking out to end it.

"We’re getting there. We really are," Trapasso said. "We’re starting to make strides now with two more weeks heading into conference play. Some people might not see it and with the competition we’re playing it might not be as noticeable, but it is to us."

Junior Tyler Brashears (2-2) took the loss despite not allowing an earned run over seven quality innings.

The right-hander, who dropped to No. 2 in the rotation this week, scattered seven hits with only one walk and two strikeouts to lower his ERA to 3.33.

"That was as good as we’ve seen him pitch," Trapasso said. "He stayed within himself today and understood that the ball down in the zone was his best friend. That’s going to give you a chance (to win) every time."

Hawaii’s starting pitchers have allowed one earned run in 131⁄3 innings in the tournament.

Senior Jarrett Arakawa, less than eight months removed from his second major shoulder surgery, will make his first start Sunday.

The fifth-year senior will face tournament host Houston, which is ranked as high as No. 8 in the major college baseball polls.

"He felt fine after a little two-inning scrimmage and he structurally is in great shape," Trapasso said. "It’s just a matter of getting back out there and getting the juices flowing.

"Adrenaline won’t be a problem coming back for the first time and doing it in a major league stadium against a team ranked in the top 10. He’ll be ready for it."

Hawaii is 1-5 in one-run games and 2-4 on its current seven-game road trip.

E—Kitaoka, Brashears, Reveles. DH—Hawaii 1, Nebraska 1. LOB—Hawaii 10, Nebraska 7. 2B—Kitaoka, Richartz, Darby, Alvarado. HBP—Schreiber, Miller. SH—Kitaoka, Baldwin, Alvarado. SB—Darby.

HBP—by Brashears (Schreiber), by Jones (Miller). BK—Jones. Umpires—(Plate): Greg Oros. (First): Thomas Walkoviak. (Third): Michael Banks. T—2:30. A—NA.