Hawaii looked ready to finally break through on the road.

The Rainbow Warriors had a five-run lead and knocked Cal Poly starter Casey Bloomquist out of the game after he gave up a career-high 11 hits.

A chance to get over .500 in the Big West with a rare series-opening win on the road was in hand until one swing changed everything.

Cal Poly junior Brian Mundell connected on a two-out, three-run homer off Hawaii starter L.J. Brewster in the bottom of the fifth inning and the Mustangs added four more runs in the sixth to hand the Rainbow Warriors a painful 7-5 loss on Friday evening at Baggett Stadium in San Luis Obispo, Calif.

Ryan Drobny tied the game with a two-run double and Peter Van Gansen hit the go-ahead RBI single for the Mustangs (12-18, 2-2), who did it against Hawaii’s best reliever.

The ‘Bows (12-21, 3-4) brought in junior Matt Valencia, who had a 1.56 ERA and allowed only 10 hits in 171⁄3 innings this season.

The left-hander had given up only one earned run in his past nine outings but could only get one out on a bunt. Valencia (0-2) gave up the two big hits and walked two to take the loss for Hawaii (12-21, 3-4).

"Matt has been the guy for us all year, but he just had a bad night," Hawaii coach Mike Trapasso said. "It came at a tough time where we had a chance to win a game on the road against a big-time pitcher."

Bloomquist, who didn’t factor into the decision, had given up three earned runs over 222⁄3 innings in his previous three starts — wins against USC, Oregon State and Cal State Fullerton.

All nine starters for Hawaii had at least one hit, with Chayce Ka‘aua, Alex Sawelson and Marcus Doi each recording two singles.

Alan Baldwin gave UH a 1-0 lead in the third inning, reaching on an infield single to score Ka‘aua.

Sawelson scored on a wild pitch in the second inning and Hawaii added three more in the fifth on RBI singles by Kaeo Aliviado and Eric Ramirez and an RBI groundout by Sawelson.

Hawaii outhit the Mustangs 12-7 but was shut down by relievers Taylor Chris and Danny Zandona.

Chris (1-0) gave up a single to Ka‘aua to start the sixth but combined with Zandona to retire the final 12 batters of the game.

Zandona worked two innings for his fifth save, striking out five of the six batters he faced.

Brewster allowed four runs on five hits in five innings with five walks and three strikeouts. The right-hander has issued 20 walks in his past four starts.

"It’s just mechanics with him right now and not being able to get the ball across," Trapasso said. "He’s struggling to get the ball out front. The thing about L.J., though, is even when he struggles, he always battles and seems to keep you in the game."

Cody Culp retired all eight batters he faced with three strikeouts.

Hawaii lost for the ninth time in 11 games away from home this season and is 7-18 on the road in Big West play.

UH is 1-6 against Cal Poly since joining the conference.

CAL POLY 7, HAWAII 5

E—Ventimilia, Barbier. DP—Hawaii 1, Cal Poly 1. LOB—Hawaii 6, Cal Poly 6. 2B—Drobny. HR—Mundell. SH—Doi, Sheldon-Collins; Pluschkell. SF—Mundell. SB—Mathias. CS—Baldwin, Kitaoka.

WP—Bloomquist. BK—Brewster.
Umpires—(Plate): Anthony Norris. (First): Chuck Lyon. (Third): Ruben Candelaria. T—2:24. A—1,521.