Hawai'i backed the strong pitching of Josh Slaats with a 16-hit attack in a 10-0 win against Louisiana Tech yesterday in the opener of a four-game Western Athletic Conference series at J.C. Love Field in Ruston, La.

Slaats (4-2) went the distance for his second seven-inning complete game of the season, allowing five hits and two walks, while striking out four. The game was called after seven innings because of the league's 10-run differential mercy rule.

"They're a very aggressive team," UH coach Mike Trapasso said of the Bulldogs, "so if you're around the plate, they're going to hit it. They're such a good offensive club that it even makes (Slaats' performance) more impressive, what he was able to do, in their park."

Love Field is considered a hitter-favorable park.

The Rainbows (20-18 overall, 3-6 WAC) hit four home runs, two by Jeffrey Van Doornum, and one each by David Freitas and Kevin Macdonald. Van Doornum's first homer followed Freitas' two-run shot in a three-run fourth. Macdonald's two-run homer capped a five-run third.

Van Doornum batted 3 for 4 with a double and Kolten Wong went 3 for 5.

Jamey Bradshaw (4-1) was tagged for nine runs, 11 hits and two walks in four innings for the Bulldogs (19-17, 4-5).

"We broke out," Trapasso said of the offense's output. "We really tried focusing on execution, moving runners. We got the lead-off man on the first three innings. That was big.

"After the first inning, we were able to execute, move runners. Freitas' home run was big. It gave us some separation (increasing the lead to 8-0). We get a couple (homers) from Van Doornum. It was a good day for us offensively. We needed that."

Shortstop Greg Garcia returned to the lineup, but was replaced by Jesse Moore in the bottom of the sixth with the 10-run lead.

"That's one down," Trapasso said, "we've got three more to go."

The series resumes today at 1 p.m., HST. The Louisiana Tech radio feed will be broadcast on ESPN 1420 AM.