Talk of regional seeds, RPIs and league championships have been replaced by the need to just survive.

Tied for the league lead only four days ago, the Hawaii baseball team now finds itself teetering on the ropes of simply qualifying for the Western Athletic Conference tournament after Louisiana Tech finished off a four-game sweep of the 'Bows with an 8-7 win yesterday before a Les Murakami Stadium crowd of 1,725.

Justin Gordey, inserted into the game after slugger Devon Dageford was ejected by umpire Kenneth Durham for arguing a check-swing call, beat out an infield hit with two outs in the ninth inning to score Patrick Thomas with the eventual game-winning run as the Bulldogs (26-18, 11-9) won their sixth straight game.

“;Our guys are believing in themselves right now,”; Louisiana Tech coach Wade Simoneaux said. “;We beat four outstanding starters and a tremendous defense and I commend our guys for that.”;

The Rainbows (26-20, 9-10) extended their season-high losing streak to five games and fell below .500 in league play for the first time all year.

Hawaii is only 1 1/2 games ahead of Fresno State and Sacramento State in the race to avoid last place and being the odd team out of the WAC tournament, which the Rainbows host beginning May 21.

“;It's a team loss. Everybody is accountable and it starts with me,”; Hawaii coach Mike Trapasso said after the game. “;I did an awful job of coaching all weekend and it cost us four games.”;

Louisiana Tech, which hosted last year's tournament but did not qualify, won for the 13th time in 15 games with a relentless offensive attack that had an answer every time the 'Bows took a lead.

The Rainbows scored two runs in each of the first three innings to go up 6-3. Ryan Morford led off the game with a home run and Christian Johnson hit a two-run homer in the second after getting his first start in five games.

Jared Alexander retired seven of eight batters at one point to maintain the three-run lead before running into trouble in the sixth. A leadoff double by Dageford, one of three hits by the junior outfielder before being tossed, started things.

Chris Kersten followed with an RBI single and Alexander was chased two batters later after a single by Mark Threlkeld.

Kyle Roliard, who finished 3-for-4 with two runs scored, greeted reliever Connor Little with an RBI single to make it a one-run game.

Little didn't record an out as he walked Matt Combs and surrendered a go-ahead two-run single to Thomas to put the Bulldogs up 7-6.

“;That's how we've been playing most of the year,”; Roliard said. “;We just battle back.”;

Hawaii left the bases loaded with the game tied at 7 in the eighth and had the tying run on third with one out in the ninth.

Graham Meyers, the sixth pitcher used by the Bulldogs in the game, struck out pinch hitter Shane Hoey on three pitches for the second out.

Matt Roquemore fouled off five straight pitches with two strikes before Meyers had to leave with an arm injury.

Jamell Clements inherited a 1-2 count to Roquemore and struck out the Rainbows lefty to end the game.

“;He heard a pop in his elbow and could be done for the year,”; Simoneaux said of Meyers. “;It's a bittersweet win, because you hate to see somebody hurt his arm like that.”;

Josh Slaats (2-2) took the loss for Hawaii, allowing the one run in 3 2/3 innings while walking two and striking out four. Mike Jefferson (2-2) got the win for the Bulldogs, while Clements earned his first save.

Hawaii is on the road for a nonconference game tomorrow at St. Mary's (Calif.) before finishing regular-season WAC play with a four-game series at Fresno State beginning Thursday.

WAC standings

Conference Overall
W L Pct. GB W-L
Nevada 9 6 .600 — 24-22
San Jose State 8 6 .571 1/2 32-15
New Mexico State 9 7 .563 1/2 38-10
Louisiana Tech 11 9 .550 1/2 26-18
Hawaii 9 10 .474 2 26-20
Fresno State 6 10 .375 3 1/2 22-25
Sacramento State 5 9 .357 3 1/2 24-21

Yesterday
Louisiana Tech 8, Hawaii 7
San Jose State 10, Sacramento State 9
Fresno State 8, Nevada 6
Fresno State 12, Nevada 5
New Mexico State 4, Houston Baptist 1

LaTech 8, Hawaii 7

LaTech AB R H BI Hawaii AB R H BI
Thomas lf 4 1 2 3 Morford 2b 3 1 2 1
Grunenwald cf 4 1 1 0 Garcia ss 4 0 0 1
Winn 2b 4 1 1 1 Catricala 3b 4 2 3 0
Dageford rf 4 1 3 1 Macdonald 1b 5 0 0 0
Gordey cf 1 0 1 1 Wong cf 3 1 1 1
Kersten ss 5 1 2 1 Hernandez c 4 0 2 0
Williams 1b 4 0 0 0 Montplaisir lf 3 1 1 1
Threlkeld 3b 4 1 1 0 Johnson dh 2 2 1 2
Roliard ph/dh 4 2 3 1 Hoey ph 1 0 0 0
Combs c 3 0 0 0 Roquemore rf 3 0 0 0
Totals 37 8 14 8 Totals 32 7 10 6
La Tech 102 004 001 — 8 14 1
Hawaii 222 001 000 — 7 10 0

E—Williams. DP—Hawaii 2. LOB—La Tech 6; Hawaii 11. 2B—Thomas; Dageford; Kersten; Wong; Hernandez; Montplaisir. HR—Winn; Morford; Johnson. HBP—Wong. SH—Grunenwald; Hernandez; Montplaisir; Roquemore 2. SF—Garcia; Montplaisir. SB—Grunenwald; Gordey. CS—Dageford.

La Tech IP H R ER BB SO
Jones 1 5 4 4 0 0
LeBreton 4 2/3 4 3 3 2 6
Watts 0 0 0 0 1 0
Jefferson (W, 2-2) 2 1/3 1 0 0 3 1
Roliard 1/3 0 0 0 0 0
Meyers 1/3 0 0 0 0 1
Clements (S, 1) 1/3 0 0 0 0 1
Hawaii IP H R ER BB SO
Alexander 5 1/3 11 6 6 0 2
Little 0 2 1 1 1 0
Slaats 3 2/3 1 1 1 2 4

WP—Alexander. HBP—by LeBreton (Wong). BK—LeBreton.

Umpires— Kenneth Durham (Plate); Ken Eldridge (First); John Bullock (Third). T—3:31. A—1,725.