With crooked numbers all over the scoreboard, Lenny Linsky came through with two of the biggest zeros of the season.

The sophomore right-hander kept Hawaii's one-run lead intact with two shutout innings to pick up his ninth save in the Rainbows' 14-13 win over Louisiana Tech yesterday at J.C. Love Field in Ruston, La.

The two teams combined for 27 runs, 32 hits and five home runs, but the deciding factor was Linsky, who came on in the eighth inning with the Rainbows ahead by one.

The Bulldogs had scorched the Rainbows for 18 hits in the first seven innings, but couldn't touch Linsky, who struck out three and allowed only one baserunner on a UH error.

It was Linsky's fifth save in which he pitched at least two innings.

“;He was as sharp as you'll see him,”; Hawaii coach Mike Trapasso said. “;That's just what we needed at the perfect time.”;

The Rainbows (21-19, 4-7 Western Athletic Conference) have a chance to win the series against the Bulldogs (20-18, 5-6) on the road, which would be quite a feat. LaTech entered the series 11-5 at home and showed yesterday how dynamic its lineup is.

Will Alvis hit two home runs and finished with five RBIs and Clint Stubbs went 4-for-5 with two runs scored.

“;They are just absolute Goliaths offensively and they play so well to their ballpark,”; Trapasso said. “;We won that game on just perseverance and tenacity.”;

Trapasso said he called his team out following a 9-5 loss on Friday, and Hawaii answered the call in a big way.

UH jumped all over LaTech starter Josh Barrett for seven runs in 2 1/3 innings. Greg Garcia hit a three-run homer in the second inning and chased Barrett with an RBI single in the third.

Matt Roquemore added a two-run double and Hawaii held a 7-2 lead at that point.

Collin Bennett's three-run homer gave Hawaii its biggest lead at 10-4 in the fourth inning.

However, the Bulldogs slowly crept back into the game, scoring at least two runs in five consecutive innings.

Alvis hit a two-run homer and Stubbs stole home on a delayed steal in the sixth inning as LaTech retook the lead at 13-12.

Jeff Van Doornum hit an RBI single and David Freitas scored on a sacrifice fly by Kevin Macdonald in the eighth inning to allow Hawaii to retake the lead.

“;To come back and win a game that you've been winning all game long and then lose the lead late, it's nothing short of outstanding from a toughness standpoint,”; Trapasso said. “;I told them that's as proud as I've been of a group of kids in 22 years of coaching.”;

Connor Little (2-0) was credited with the win despite allowing six hits and four runs in three innings. Alvis (0-1) took the loss for the Bulldogs, allowing both runs in the eighth inning.

Hawaii will turn to Nate Klein (1-0, 5.62 ERA) to try to win the series today. Klein has not started a game since injuring his shoulder March 12 against USC. He pitched 1 1/3 innings in Friday's loss.

“;I've got to get him back in the rotation and get his pitch count back up so he can help us down the stretch and in the WAC tournament,”; Trapasso said. “;It's going to take a complete effort from our guys tomorrow.”;

Depending on how the game goes, Trapasso expects Klein to throw between 50 and 60 pitches.

The Rainbows still sit in last place in the WAC, but are just two games out of second after Nevada's doubleheader sweep of Fresno State yesterday.

Yesterday
Hawaii 14, Louisiana Tech 13
Nevada 17, Fresno State 6 (7 innings)
Nevada 14, Fresno State 4 (7 innings)
New Mexico State 9, Sacramento State 3
Wichita State 7, San Jose State 6
Today
Hawaii at Louisiana Tech, 8 a.m.
Fresno State at Nevada
New Mexico State at Sacramento State
San Jose State at Wichita State

E—Kitamura; Freitas; Garcia 2; Ewing. DP—Hawaii 2. LOB—Hawaii 7; Tech 7. 2b—Macdonald, Roquemore; Roliard, Dageford, Ford, Terrasas. 3b—Bennett; Stubbs. HR—Bennett, Garcia; Alvis 2, Dageford. HBP—Van Doornum, Bennett. SF—Macdonald. SB—Roquemore; Stubbs, Terrasas. CS—Wong.

WP—Sisto 2; Dudley. HBP—by Barrett (Bennett); by Dudley (Van Doornum).
Umpires—David Rogers (Plate); Ken Eldridge (First); Gus Rodriguez (Third).
T—3:16. A—621.