Chris Kersten hit two home runs, including a grand slam, to lead host Louisiana Tech over Hawai'i, 14-4, today in the second game to earn a split of a Western Athletic Conference doubleheader that was called in the bottom of the seventh because of the 10-run differential mercy rule.

Kersten's homers were among four hit by the Bulldogs (17-24 overall, 3-18 WAC) in handing the Rainbows (21-23, 13-10) their first loss by the 10-run rule.

For the second game in a row, the Bulldogs hit three home runs in succession. In the second game, Jericho Jones hit a three-run homer, followed by homers by Albie Goulder and Kersten. In the first game, Clay Alexander, Jones and Goulder in solo homers in a row.

Alan Knotts (3-2) went seven innings, allowing four runs, all unearned, five hits and a walk with eight strikeouts.

Alex Bates (0-1) gave up five runs (four earned), three hits and a walk with six strikeouts in 4 2/3 innings for UH.

The Bulldogs scored twice in the first inning. Adam Cobb singled, Kevin Winn was hit by a pitch and Drew Bunting singled to load the bases. Jericho Jones hit a comebacker to Bates, who threw home, but catcher Kevin Fujii dropped the ball for an error for a run and to reload the bases. Albie Goulder's sacrifice fly to left made it 2-0.

Thanks to two errors, the Rainbows took the lead in the fourth. Vinnie Catricala led off with a walk and took third when Greg Garcia reached second on a sacrifice and throwing error by the third baseman to put runners at second and third. Catricala and Garcia took third when Landon Hernandez reached safely on a two-base throwing error by the shortstop to put runners at second and third and pull UH to 2-1. After Kevin Fujii fouled out to third, Brandon Haislet doubled to left-center to score two to put the Rainbows ahead, 3-2. Haislet took third on a wild pitch and scored on Jon Hee's single off the second baseman to make it 4-2.

But the lead was short-lived when Jones crushed a three-run home run off Bates to put the Bulldogs ahead, 5-4. Bates was pulled for Alex Capaul, who was greeted by Albie Goulder with a home run to right to make it 6-4. Kersten followed with a home run to right to make it 7-4. Capaul was pulled for Sam Spangler, who got the last out of the inning.

The Bulldogs got a grand slam from Kersten to make it 11-4 in the seventh. Adam Cobb added an RBI double to make it 12-4. Kevin Winn's two-run single ended the game on the 10-run differential rule.