Their records are nearly opposite, but Hawai'i and Loyola Marymount are tied in other aspects as they get set for their three-game series starting today in Los Angeles.

Today's game starts at noon, Hawai'i time, at George C. Page Stadium and can be heard on KKEA 1420 AM.

The Rainbows (6-2) haven't traveled to the Mainland for non-conference games that weren't tied in with a Western Athletic Conference series since starting conference play in 1980. The Lions (2-5), picked to finish fourth in the eight-team West Coast Conference, are trying to win their first series of the season.

The Rainbows, who have a modest two-game win streak, have several ties with the Lions.

Hawai'i coach Mike Trapasso and LMU coach Frank Cruz coached together two summers ago on Team USA, which won a gold medal at the World University Games in Tainan, Taiwan.

"I'm looking forward to it," Trapasso said of seeing Cruz again. "We're good friends. He's a great coach."

The series also reunites summer teammates. Hawai'i starting pitcher Steven Wright (1-0, 1.93 ERA) and LMU starting pitcher Brad Meyers (0-1, 4.50), as well as outfielder Chris Pettit, played together for the Orleans Cardinals, winners of the Cape Cod League championship. Wright said he has stayed in touch with both players. Wright and Meyers are today's starting pitchers.

Other than that, it's a business trip for the Rainbows, who were 7-10 on the Mainland last season, but 6-3 on their last two road trips. Trapasso said the early trip is to prepare the Rainbows for playing in a hostile environment before getting into WAC play. But Los Angeles might not be totally hostile, as UH has several players from Southern California.

"It will be nice for them to play in front of their hometown crowds, play in front of their parents," Trapasso said.

Outfielder Matt Inouye, who has a back injury, made the trip but is doubtful for today, Trapasso said. Inouye was the team's hottest hitter at .714 before suffering the injury in Saturday's game against UC Irvine.

First baseman Kris Sanchez, who has made two pinch-hitting appearances since being sidelined from the third game of the season with a hamstring injury, might be available for the series, Trapasso said.

The Rainbows received quality starts from right-hander Wright and left-handers Ian Harrington (0-1, 4.50) and Mark Rodrigues (1-0, 4.50) in last weekend's series against UC Irvine at the friendly confines of Les Murakami Stadium. They will learn if they can adapt to a different environment in which all of the games will be played during the day because Page Stadium doesn't have lights.

Meanwhile, the Lions are trying to right themselves after losing 2 of 3 to Arizona and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, as well as a midweek game against UC Irvine.

Meyers, a 6-foot-6, 195-pound right-hander, was ranked the ninth-best prospect in the Cape after going 4-2 with a 1.61 ERA. He allowed six runs in five innings in a 10-5 loss to Arizona. He pitched better against Cal Poly SLO, giving up three runs in seven innings and getting a no-decision in a 10-8 loss.

Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at skaneshiro@honoluluadvertiser.com.