And you thought Long Beach State, with its then-1.89 team earned run average, had good pitching.

Hawai'i (6-9) opens a three-game series against nationally ranked UC Irvine, 3 p.m. HST, today at Anteater Ballpark in Irvine, Calif.

The Ant-eaters (11-1) are ranked between No. 8 by Collegiate Baseball and No. 13 by Baseball America in four different national polls. They have a team ERA of 1.51. The staff has allowed opponents a .198 batting average.

UCI's only blemish is a 2-0 loss at Tulane. The Anteaters have thrown five shutouts this season. They shut out San Francisco in each game of a three-game sweep; UH split a four-game series with USF earlier this season.

"We're going to have back-to-back weekends, where by the end of the year, we'll have faced the No. 1 and No. 2 pitching staffs in the country because of the way their numbers are now," said UH coach Mike Trapasso. "(The Anteaters are) great. They've got pretty much everybody back."

Today's UCI starter, right-hander Scott Gorgen (2-1, 0.82), is the regarded as the top pitching prospect in the Big West and the preseason pick as conference Pitcher of the Year in Baseball America's season preview.

In three starts, Gorgen has allowed just six hits in 22 innings, walking nine and striking out 25.

Tomorrow's starter is right-hander Bryce Stowell (2-0, 3.18). He has allowed 15 hits and four walks with 15 strikeouts in 17 innings from three starts. Although a sophomore, he sat out last season after not being granted his release when he transferred from Pepperdine. He is eligible for the draft.

Sunday's starter is sophomore right-hander Christian Bergman (2-0, 1.02).

Offensively, the Anteaters have been efficient with "small ball" with 24 sacrifices and 37 steals in 47 tries. Second baseman Ryan Fisher leads the team with two home runs and 16 RBIs.

The Rainbows will use the same starting rotation they employed against Long Beach State.

Right-hander Jared Alexander (2-1, 0.96) will start today, left-hander Nick Rhodes (0-1, 5.40) will start tomorrow and right-hander Matt Daly (3-1. 4.12) is slated for Sunday if he doesn't throw too many pitches in relief today.

The Anteaters lead the all-time series, 9-5.

Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at skaneshiro@honoluluadvertiser.com.