Christian Johnson's one-out, solo home run in the top of the 12th inning and eight strong innings of relief from two true freshmen lifted Hawai'i over Portland, 9-8, yesterday in the championship game of the inaugural Rose City Invitational in Portland, Ore.

The Rainbows (13-7) avenged a 13-2 loss to the Pilots (13-9) Friday to finish 3-1 in the four-team tournament held at PGE Park.

Hawai'i entered the title game needing another strong start from yet another freshman in Connor Little. But he was tagged for six runs in 3 2/3 innings and junior Ryan Davis didn't help by allowing a run, one hit and three walks in one-third of an inning.

But freshman right-hander Jesse Moore, making his first appearance of the season, allowed just one run, five hits and a walk with six strikeouts in five innings.

Freshman right-hander Lenny Linsky (1-0), who hadn't pitched since Feb. 28 against UC Santa Barbara (three runs in 1 1/3 innings), added three scoreless innings, allowing two hits and two walks with one strikeout.

"It was a tremendous performance by two freshmen," UH coach Mike Trapasso said. "I'm not overstating it by saying we might have found something that may really help us with those two kids because they competed under pressure. They threw strikes, made big pitches in big situations.

"Couldn't be happier for them. Couldn't be happier for C.J. (Johnson)."

After Portland starter Tyler Thompson was tagged for six runs in 3 1/3 innings, four relievers combined to allow three runs in the next 8 2/3 innings to keep the game close. The right-handed Zach Varce (1-4) struck out the last two batters in the 11th and the first in the 12th before the Rainbows sent the left-handed hitting Johnson up for the left-handed hitting Roquemore, who was 0 for 5 with three strikeouts. Johnson yanked an 0-2 pitch down the right-field line to break the deadlock.

"Roquemore was struggling and C.J. is one of those guys who has a chance to win it for you with one swing," Trapasso said. "He's got so much power. He got an off-speed pitch down and in and hit a line drive right out."

The homer capped a day-long battle.

The Pilots jumped on Little for two in the bottom of the first, but UH cut its deficit in half in the top of the second on a solo homer by Landon Hernandez.

Portland increased its lead to 3-1 on a solo homer by Bryant Kraus in the third.

The Rainbows batted around in a five-run fourth to take a 6-3 lead.

The Pilots also batted around in the bottom of the fourth for three runs. Little left with a 6-4 lead, but Davis walked three and allowed a single to the five batters he faced, as Portland tied it at 6.

Each team scored a run in the fifth to keep the game tied at 7.

Kolten Wong's RBI single with two outs in the sixth put UH ahead, 8-7. But the Pilots tied it at 8 in the bottom of the eighth on a bases-loaded RBI single by Kevin Armijo with one out. Moore escaped further damage when shortstop Greg Garcia turned an inning-ending double play.

The Pilots had the winning run in scoring position in the 10th, 11th and 12th innings, but Linsky pitched out of each jam.

Trapasso said he was determined not to bring back relievers, such as Harrison Kuroda, Sam Spangler and Josh Slaats, with short rest following extended relief appearances earlier in the tournament. By using Moore and Linsky, he might have shored up the depth in the bullpen.

"I wanted to win the game, but surely didn't want to hurt those guys," Trapasso said. "And yet what I did was create an opportunity for those two freshmen (Moore and Linsky) to go out there. They pitched well and showed great stuff. They showed the stuff that we recruited, so it's kind of exciting to know those two guys are in the mix in our bullpen the rest of the way."

Hawai'i's adventures continue today at Oregon State (12-5). Game time is 1 p.m. HST. It is the Rainbows' first return to Covallis since the 2006 regionals. Kuroda, Spangler, Slaats and even Jared Alexander (51 pitches in 2 2/3 innings Friday) are likely to staff the game, Trapasso said.