Zach Gallagher gave Hawai'i a big lift with six strong innings in an 8-2 win against Long Beach State yesterday at Blair Field in Long Beach, Calif.

In only his second start of the season, the junior right-hander allowed a run and six hits with no walks and three strikeouts to lead the Rainbows (12-9) to their fifth consecutive win.

"He threw strikes and mixed pitches," UH coach Mike Trapasso said. "He gave up a few hits here and there, but forced contact. He was ahead in the count. He threw three pitches for strikes. I don't think we could ask any more out of him than what we got."

Gallagher (1-1) left the game leading 3-1 with Blair Walters taking over to start the seventh. Walters allowed three singles as the Dirtbags (9-10) pulled to 3-2 and had runners at first and second with one out before he was replaced by Jesse Moore.

Moore picked off the runner at second before retiring Kellen Hoime on a fly to right. Moore allowed only a single in the next two innings, striking out two, to notch his second save.

"Greg (Garcia, UH's shortstop) putting the pick on in such a good situation in reading the base runner getting far off and putting the pick in, that was big," Trapasso said of the pickoff play. "It kind of took the wind out of their sails."

Trapasso said he considered letting Gallagher start the seventh, but he is considering starting Gallagher Monday against San Diego.

"I definitely thought about sending him out for the seventh, but honestly with 77 pitches, that's the most he's thrown," Trapasso said. "But we went with Blair and Blair was just empty today."

David Freitas and Collin Bennett each drove in two runs to lead UH. Freitas' third-inning sacrifice fly scored Garcia, who led off with a triple, and tied the game at 1. Freitas also had a bases-loaded walk in a three-run eighth. Bennett followed with a two-run single in that inning.

Kevin Macdonald hit his team-leading fifth home run to lead off the fifth against LBSU starter Nate Underwood (1-1), who went 4 2/3 innings and gave up three runs.

The Rainbows begin a three-game series at Cal State Fullerton (10-10) tomorrow. Josh Slaats will start tomorrow for UH, followed by Sam Spangler on Saturday and Matt Sisto on Sunday, Trapasso said.