They played "Who Let the (Bull)Dogs Out" over the stadium public address system when the Louisiana Tech baseball team took the field last night.

The ceremonial first pitch was thrown by a dignitary in a blue shirt.

When Devon Dageford hit a sixth-inning home run to set the Bulldogs' single-season home run record, officials quickly hunted down the ball so it could be presented to him.

Yes, you could say the Bulldogs were more than just the designated home team. They made themselves at home at Les Murakami Stadium and if there was any doubt who holds the deed to the place this season, catcher Clint Ewing, the ninth hitter in the Louisiana Tech batting order, answered it with a two-run, ninth-inning walk-off home run for a 4-3 victory over the University of Hawai'i in the opening round of the NAPA Auto Parts Western Athletic Conference Baseball Tournament.

And because of that the Bulldogs will occupy the home slot — the 7 p.m. feature game — tonight while the reeling Rainbows are relegated to the 11 a.m. elimination game against Nevada.

But, then, the Bulldogs have found a home on the Domoturf this season with a fifth consecutive victory there over the 'Bows. After four in a row here over UH three weeks ago — the first four-game sweep of UH in Manoa — it seemed hard to imagine the Bulldogs could come 4,000 miles again to make it No. 5.

I mean, nobody since Oklahoma in 1975 had come into Manoa and done that.

Until last night.

Of course the 'Bows aided in their own stunning demise. They practically rolled out the red carpet on this one leaving 13 men on base, 10 of them in scoring position. Three times UH left the bases loaded. The Nos. 3, 4 and 5 hitters in the batting order were a collective 0-for-12.

All the while you had to wonder, as a supportive crowd of 2,578 found itself doing, how many of those squandered opportunities would come back to haunt the 'Bows? And, when?

Because for all that three inning-ending double plays gave the 'Bows, there was no breathing room. There was no separation from a Louisiana Tech team that wobbled — and bobbled — through the first three innings and, then, in the manner of a team at home, seemed to find its equilibrium.

And when it was over the Bulldogs rushed the field to celebrate, something they have down pretty good here.

Call it home sweet home. These Bulldogs now do.