This certainly isn't the weekend to be short on pitching, but that's exactly what Hawai'i faces.

The Rainbows (10-6) take their seven-game win streak to the University of Portland's Rose City Invitational at PGE Park, the home of the Triple-A Portland Beavers.

Hawai'i opens with a doubleheader Friday against Washington and Portland, then plays Oregon on Saturday. Based on its record UH will play in either the consolation or championship on Sunday. The trip is capped with a single game Monday at Oregon State. That's five games over four days.

The Rainbows will be without Nate Klein, who has been second in the rotation the first four weekends this season. The right-hander had some discomfort in his forearm last Friday against Loyola Marymount and will not make the trip to Oregon and is possibly out the following weekend for the Coastal Carolina series. Everyone gets bumped up in the rotation with Jayson Kramer to start against Washington, Jared Alexander against Portland and Matt Sisto against Oregon. Freshman Connor Little will start Sunday. Monday's game in Corvallis will be staffed.

The good news is that Alexander, who was shut down the latter part of last season with elbow tenderness and brought along slowly to start this season, has been progressing well. He has made three starts, each with an increase in pitch counts, while not allowing any earned runs in 13 innings. Hawai'i coach Mike Trapasso said the goal this game is 90 pitches.

"It was a long process," Alexander said of the period he was shut down. "It was tough watching everyone do intersquads (scrimmages) when I couldn't."

Alexander wasn't allowed to throw until he was pain-free.

"I was able to throw bullpens before we went to winter break," Alexander said. "Right when we got back, I was able to start facing hitters. I try not to think about it (the elbow)."

Alexander's first start was limited to 45 pitches against Minnesota. He made it through four scoreless innings using just 37 pitches, or about one inning more than 45 pitches usually lasts, an allowed one hit. His count was increased to 60 against Mississippi State and he used 57 through four scoreless innings again and gave up two hits. This past weekend against Loyola Marymount, he was up to 75 and used 72 in a season-high five innings. He was charged with three runs, but all were unearned because of an error. He walked two, which was somewhat uncharacteristic for the right-hander.

"I had a little setback, pitching-wise, with my command," Alexander said. "(It was) more of concentration. I had trouble with my mechanics and couldn't control my fastball."

Meanwhile, 6-foot-6 freshman right-hander Little will make his first start. He has struck out 10 and walked five in 8 1/3 innings from three relief appearances. Trapasso said Little should be strong enough for 90 to 100 pitches.

"He hasn't done that in three or four weeks," Trapasso said. "So we hope he can give us 80 to 90 pitches, five innings or more. It will be a great experience for him. He's earned (the chance to start)."

Hawai'i faced Washington in the Minnesota tournament, beating the Huskies, 3-2, with a run in the bottom of the ninth. The Huskies threw Jordan Merry, who allowed one run (unearned) in five innings. But this time around, they are scheduled to use left-hander Adrian Gomez (1-2), whose only start came in a win against Oregon.