Hawai'i's usually reliable bullpen allowed five runs in a seven-run ninth that allowed Louisiana Tech to rally to a 10-9 win to salvage a split of the Western Athletic Conference series today at J.C. Love Field in Ruston, La.

Pinch hitter Clint Ewing's one out, two-run home run — the third homer of the inning and sixth in the game by the Bulldogs — capped the rally for the Bulldogs (18-24 overall, 4-18 WAC). The homer came off Cory Kahn (2-2), the second reliever of the inning.

Aaron Lorio (5-3) allowed two hits in a scoreless top of the ninth for LaTech.

The rally spoiled a strong outing by UH starter Matt Daly, who allowed six runs, eight hits and one walk with four strikeouts in eight-plus innings for the Rainbows (21-24, 13-11).

The Bulldogs sent eight batters to the plate in the seven-run ninth. Daly started the ninth, allowing Nick Grunenwald's second home run of the game, a two-run shot off. After Kevin Winn followed with a single, Daly was pulled for Jayson Kramer, who served up a two-run home run to Chris Bohanan to pull Tech to 9-7. After Albie Goulder singled, Kramer was replaced by Cory Kahn. A wild pitch moved Goulder to second before Chris Kersten walked. Patrick Thomas struck out before Ewing homered to center to end the game.

The Bulldogs continued its power surge from Saturday when Winn hit a solo home run in the first inning to give his team a 1-0 lead.

Hawai'i took the lead in the fourth. Brandon Haislet hit a two-out solo home run to center to tie the game at 1. Jeff Van Doornum reached safely on a two-base fielding error by the shortstop and scored on Kevin Macdonald's single to center to give UH a 2-1 lead.

The lead was short-lived, as Nick Grunenwald tied the game at 2 with a lead-off home run in the fourth.

The Rainbows regained the lead in the fifth. Greg Garcia led off with a single, but was thrown out at home trying to score on Landon Hernandez's double. Matt Roquemore was hit by a pitch before Derek DuPree struck out. Jon Hee was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Haislet then reached safely on a fielder's choice grounder to third, scoring Hernandez to give UH a 3-2 lead.

Again, another short-lived lead because, again, the Bulldogs tied it with a lead-off home run by Chris Kersten in the fifth.

Hawai'i went up again in the sixth. With one out, Catricala reached on a fielding error by the shortstop and singles by Garcia and Hernandez loaded the bases. Moseley was pulled for Andrew Lassere and got Roquemore to ground out to first to advance the runners and give UH a 4-3 lead. Shane Hoey came in to pinch hit for DuPree and Lassere was replaced by Alex Richard. Hoey walked to load the bases, but Hee struck out, leaving the bases full.

The Rainbows thought they insured their lead by sending 10 batters to the plate in a five-run the eighth. Catricala led off with a single and took second on Garcia's bunt single to third. After Alex Richard struck out Hernandez, he was relieved by Landon Braud in a double switch where Richard went to left field. Roquemore's two-run triple to center made it 6-3. Richard came back to pitch with Patrick Thomas replacing him in left. But pinch hitter Alex Myers singled home Roquemore to make it 7-3. Hee walked to put runners at first and second. Richard was lifted again, this time for John Anderson. Haislet's flyout to center sent Myers to third. Van Doornum's single to center made it 8-3 as Hee stopped at second. Macdonald's RBI double made it 9-3 with Van Doornum moving to third.