Hawai'i will try to extend its three-game winning streak as it opens a four-game series tonight against Loyola Marymount.

The Rainbows (6-6) have had their way with the Lions (8-7), picked to finish sixth in the eight-team West Coast Conference by the league's coaches. They last played in 2006 with UH sweeping a three-game series in Los Angeles and extending its win streak against LMU to nine. Hawai'i leads the series, 22-7.

But the Lions, under first-year coach Jason Gill, have been giving off mixed signals. They arrive here having lost their last five games. This past weekend, they were swept in a four-game series by UC Santa Barbara, which beat UH in the Minnesota tournament. The Lions then lost to UC Riverside, 10-9, Tuesday in 10 innings, blowing a 4-0 lead after four innings.

These are the same Lions who hammered UC Irvine, 11-3. It's the same nationally ranked Anteaters who took 3 of 4 from UH three weeks ago.

"All the scouting reports we got from them, they really play to the last out and are a good club," UH coach Mike Trapasso said. "Don't take into account what happened this past weekend because they beat some good teams. We'll definitely have a challenge this weekend."

As usual, UH's success starts on the mound. The Rainbows will use the same rotation from last week's Mississippi State series. Jayson Kramer (1-2) starts tonight's opener. Despite coming off a loss to MSU, he had his best outing, working a career-high eight innings. He has been consistent at keeping his pitches down in the zone.

Nate Klein (0-1), who starts tomorrow, has carried his load, taking his previous two starts seven innings.

Jared Alexander (0-0) will make his third start of the season on Saturday. His pitch count limit has been increased each week. He will be up to 75 to 80 pitches, Trapasso said. Depending how efficient Alexander is, the pitch count should last him five or six innings. He has gone four innings in each of his previous two starts, but has been superb, allowing just three hits with no walks with six strikeouts.

"Where that takes us, we'll see," Trapasso said of Alexander's pitch limit. "We'll just add 15 or more pitches every time out until he gets up to a 100."

Freshman Matt Sisto (1-1) could not take advantage of the strong run support he had Sunday in UH's 11-5 win over MSU, lasting just four innings. But he does throw strikes, walking just one in 14 innings.

The Rainbows' bullpen also has been doing well. Sam Spangler continues to baffle opponents, having not allowed a run in 12 1/3 innings. Josh Slaats overcame a rough first two outings with a strong 4 2/3 innings against MSU in the series finale. Freshman Connor Little also had a strong outing against MSU with 2 2/3 scoreless with six strikeouts.

There's still a matter of getting some others work. Alex Capaul, originally in the starting rotation, and promising freshman Lenny Linsky are having a tough time finding opportunities.

"I'd love to continue to get some of the other guys out there, but with our schedule and the teams we're playing and the fact that our starters, knock on wood, have really been giving us quality starts, going six, seven innings, that has stopped some of the guys from getting some opportunities," Trapasso said. "But it's about results now and going out to play to win."