Hawai'i begins a modest five-game baseball road trip — its first of the season — today with a single game at Long Beach State.

First pitch is 3:30 p.m., Hawai'i time, and the game will be broadcast live on ESPN 1420 AM.

The Rainbows (11-9) just got through sweeping Air Force in a four-game series to cap a 20-game homestand.

Junior college transfer Zach Gallagher (0-1, 6.75) will make his second start of the season today. The 49ers (9-9), whose baseball team also likes to be called the Dirtbags because of their rugged style of play, will start right-hander Nate Underwood (0-1, 3.38).

"He's going to go as long as he can," UH coach Mike Trapasso said of Gallagher. "That depends on how well he's throwing."

Gallagher was pressed into an emergency start against Southern California several weeks ago. The junior right-hander went 3[0xb0] innings, allowing three runs (two earned), four hits and three walks in a 9-0 loss.

The Dirtbags are coming off a home series in which they took 2 of 3 from Nevada-Las Vegas over the weekend.

"To be a postseason team, you have to win on the road," Trapasso said.

The Dirtbags have a team batting average of .277 and average 5.3 runs per game. Third baseman Joey Terdsolavich leads the team with two homers and 17 RBIs while batting .294. The Dirtbags have hit just three home runs, while giving up 11.

The Rainbows will stay in Southern California, playing a three-game series at Cal State Fullerton starting Friday, and closing with a single game at San Diego on Monday.

Note: Pitcher Zach Gallagher and outfielder Collin Bennett will play for the Wenatchee (Wash.) AppleSox of the summer collegiate West Coast League, UH announced in a press release.