"We've been playing better once we left their place," UH coach Mike Trapasso said. "But it's no fluke what happened at Sacramento. They flat out beat us and they beat us in every phase of the game, starting with coaching. They're a good club and can really swing the bats. Going into that series, their pitchers didn't have good numbers and they went in there and just shut us down completely and have pitched well since."

"With this group in particular, I don't worry about a hangover effect from that game," Trapasso said. "I don't feel the need to bring that up with our guys any more because they've been through enough with the early season struggles finding themselves. They always stay loose, they always stay confident, they always work hard. I've been as proud of a group of these young men as any I've ever been around in 20 years of coaching for what they've been through and how they've reacted to adversity."

The Hornets are experiencing adversity of their own. They arrive here with a five-game losing streak and were swept in their own park last weekend by New Mexico State. But the Hornets lead the WAC in hitting at .315 and average 6.6 runs per game, just under the league average of 6.8. They also have the league's leading hitter in left fielder Gabe Jacobo (.400), who is tied for second in the WAC with 12 homers and fourth in RBIs with 50.

"The fact that they struggled (last) weekend isn't going to have any bearing because they've already shown they're a solid club," Trapasso said. "They've got our number, so we've got a challenge this weekend."

Other big contributors are third baseman David Flores (.349, 33 RBIs) and center fielder Tim Wheeler (.338).

The Hornets will start the same pitchers they did in their earlier sweep of UH: Jose Ramirez (4-4, 4.55), Trevor York (4-4, 5.49), Brian Smith (2-1, 6.88) and Corey Weglin (1-3, 5.57). The Hornets had a 3.50 ERA against UH the last time they played.

Meanwhile, Hawai'i will be without left fielder Sean Montplaisir, who jammed his shoulder last weekend and missed the last game at Louisiana Tech. Matt Roquemore replaced Montplaisir and had a two-run triple. Also available for outfield duties are Derek DuPree, if not at DH, and Evan Zimny.

The Rainbows will have the same three starting pitchers in Jared Alexander, Nick Rhodes and Alex Bates. The fourth will be determined by who is available at the time.

Bates, who made his third start last weekend, has been slowly increasing his pitch counts. He was at 65 to 70 pitches at Louisiana Tech.

"He'll be up to 80 to 90, providing he feels good," Trapasso said.

The Hornets have two players from Hawai'i in senior second baseman Taylor Watanabe ('Aiea '03) and catcher Brett Tanigawa (Moanalua '03). Watanabe, whose sister Ashley is a former Wahine volleyball player, shares time at second base with Hunter Martinez. Watanabe is hitting .307 and is 4 for 4 in steals. Tanigawa, a reserve catcher, is hitting .240.