It's plain and simple for Hawai'i.

"We just have to step it up," UH catcher Landon Hernandez said.

Louisiana Tech has squeezed an already tight Western Athletic Conference by knocking off Hawai'i with a three-run ninth in an 8-5 win last night before 2,501 at Les Murakami Stadium.

The Rainbows (26-18 overall, 9-8 WAC) dropped a game behind first-place Nevada (7-4), which was rained out at Fresno State, and a half-game behind San Jose State (7-5) and New Mexico State (9-7), which is playing a non-conference series with Houston Baptist.

Meanwhile, the Bulldogs (24-18, 9-9) moved a half-game behind the Rainbows.

"On the road, you always play for a split or better," Tech coach Wade Simoneaux said. "But we're not finished. We're here for the weekend. We gotta fight because they got a quality club that can put one on us if we're not prepared to play."

The Rainbows need to snap out of whatever kind of funk they are in. It is the third time this season they have dropped three in a row, but the first two happened within their first nine games.

"Yesterday, we didn't score runs, today we didn't make pitches," UH coach Mike Trapasso said. "Again, I'll credit (the Bulldogs)."

Hawai'i starter Matt Sisto could not hold a 4-2 lead after five innings.

The Bulldogs tagged him for three runs in the sixth when he gave up a lead-off single to Kevin Winn and double to Devon Degeford to put the runners at second and third. Sisto struck out Chris Kersten, but Alex Williams' two-run single to center tied the game at 4. After walking Mark Threlkeld, Sisto was pulled for Sam Spangler, who struck out pinch hitter Clint Ewing, but walked Matt Combs to load the bases. A wild pitch scored Williams to make it 5-4 before Patrick Thomas grounded out to first to end the inning.

Hawai'i tied it in the seventh when Ryan Morford — a hot 4 for 4 with two doubles and three runs — doubled, took third on ground out to short and scored on a wild pitch.

Meanwhile, Spangler had allowed only an infield single over the next two innings before the Bulldogs scored three in the ninth on back-to-back RBI doubles by Nick Gruenenwald and Winn and later on a wild pitch by Harrison Kuroda.

Spangler (4-1) was charged with three runs, four hits and two walks with four strikeouts in three innings.

"Having to go to Sam in the sixth (inning) killed us," Trapasso said. "I even told Chad (Konishi, pitching coach) that it was too early to go to Sam. It was probably a mistake on my part. He's not a guy to go four or five innings."

Of Spangler's 15 appearances, only twice previously he has gone four or more innings this season.

On the other side, Tech reliever Jamey Bradshaw (1-4) settled the game for the Bulldogs, allowing a run, two hits and three walks in 4 2/3 innings.

"Jamey's a veteran for us," Simoneaux said. "He has good stuff, but had some hard luck against some good teams. He got his first win and it came at a great time. He saved our bullpen. He really gave us some quality innings."

With only six WAC games left, the Rainbows need face a crucial stretch.

"We're not playing well and we have to find a way to get them out of it," Trapasso said.

The series resumes at 6:35 tonight. There are fewer than 400 reserved tickets for the game.