After getting pounded by the tournament's host Friday, UC Santa Barbara took out its frustration on Hawai'i, 10-4, yesterday at the Dairy Queen Classic in the Metrodome in Minneapolis.

The Gauchos (4-2), an anticipated contender in the Big West, made up for a 13-3 beating by Minnesota on Friday by posting double-digit runs, the first time it has happened against UH (3-4) this season.

Freshman Matt Sisto (1-1), who allowed two runs in seven innings against then-No. 9-ranked UC Irvine a week ago, was tagged for five runs (three earned) and seven hits in three innings.

"He just didn't make good pitches today," UH coach Mike Trapasso said. "He was tipping his pitches. We couldn't get him out of it.

"I credit (the Gauchos). They did a nice job. They did a better job than us today."

Moreover, UCSB saved its ace for UH, instead of the tourney opener against Minnesota in right-hander Joe Gardner (1-0), regarded as a single-digit round draft pick in June.

"I told our guys that," Trapasso said. "That's a sign of respect."

Gardner went 7 2/3 innings, allowing three runs, three hits and a walk with eight strikeouts.

"It worked," an amused Trapasso said of UCSB saving its ace. "He was very good. We really didn't have an answer for him. He's going to be a high draft (pick)."

Jesse Meaux pitched the final 1 1/3 innings, allowing a run and four hits with two strikeouts.

Matt Valaika led UCSB's 14-hit attack by batting 3 for 5 with three RBIs. John DeAlba went 3 for 4.

The day wasn't a total wash for UH. It gave work to two freshmen pitchers making their season debuts.

With UCSB taking a 5-0 lead after three innings, Trapasso followed Sisto with right-handers Connor Little and Lenny Linsky. Little went three innings, giving up two runs, but also recorded the only two frames the Gauchos didn't score. Linsky gave up three runs (two earned) in 1 1/3 innings. Senior Alex Myers wrapped it up with two-thirds of an inning.

"Connor threw well," Trapasso said. "Lenny Linsky did not; he was up in the zone. But Connor mixed his pitches and threw well. He put up our only two zeroes in the game."

Vinnie Catricala hit his first home run of the season to score UH's first run in the fourth. The Rainbows pulled to 8-4 with a two-run eighth on an RBI double by Kolten Wong and RBI single by pinch hitter Josh Chevalier. It was Chevalier's season debut and the JC transfer's first Division I hit.

The Rainbows wrap up their first road trip of the season today against host Minnesota in the tourney finale. (Thursday's game was not part of the tourney.) Game time is 11 a.m., Hawai'i time. The game can be heard on ESPN 1420 AM.

Trapasso said senior right-hander Jared Alexander will start today. It will be his season debut. The Western Athletic Conference preseason Pitcher of the Year has been rehabilitating a tender right elbow since the end of last season. He will be limited to two innings or approximately 45 pitches.

"We need to get him out there," Trapasso said of Alexander, who was 7-3 with a 3.27 earned run average in 2008 and an All-WAC first-team selection.

Alex Capaul, who was in the rotation last week against UC Irvine when he gave up four runs (three earned) in three innings, will be available for relief, as will Sam Spangler, Harrison Kuroda and Josh Slaats. All are sufficiently rested. Slaats, the closer, is very likely to see action since he has yet to pitch on this trip.

"I hope it's in a save situation," Trapasso said.

The Rainbows will need to pull out all stops against the Gophers, who have been hitting the ball well since UH beat them, 5-2, on Thursday. Minnesota had 11 hits in the loss and got 17 against UCSB and 11 against Washington.

"They can hit," Trapasso said. "We're going to have to pitch well (today)."