Kyle Garlick helped provide the first offensive explosion of 2012 at Les Murakami Stadium.

Garlick homered and scored three times, and Aaron Jones and J.J. Altobelli each had three hits and drove in two runs as Oregon used an eight-run fourth to hammer Hawaii 14-5 on Sunday afternoon.

The Ducks (2-1) will try for their first series win against the Rainbows (1-2) when the two teams close out a four-game set today at 1 p.m.

"It’s a great opportunity, something I’ve never accomplished since I’ve been here," Oregon coach George Horton said. "To be able to get out of town winning three of four games, we’d feel real good about that because (Hawaii) is a team we respect the heck out of."

Unlike last year, when UO rallied from 2-0 deficit to earn a split, the Rainbows will have to respond with a victory to avoid losing an opening series for the third time in four years.

Oregon blew the game open with an eight-spot in the fourth, sending 14 batters to the plate.

The Ducks had seven hits in the inning, including the home run by Garlick that made it 10-0.

UH didn’t do itself any favors either, hitting two batters, walking two more and committing two errors.

"We’re trying to do too much again," Hawaii coach Mike Trapasso said. "We gave them six or seven outs and against any team, you’re going to lose, but against a team like Oregon, you’re going to lose big because they take such good advantage of it."

UH used five pitchers on Sunday, including four who made their UH debut. Starter Jon Flinn, a 6-foot-6 junior, was touched up for seven runs on seven hits in 31⁄3 innings.

Oregon got two runs early, as Altobelli doubled on the first pitch of the game and freshman Shaun Chase smacked a 3-0 pitch down the line in left for a two-run double.

Altobelli added an RBI single in the fourth and Flinn was pulled after a throwing error trying to get a tough out at home on a sacrifice bunt instead of making the easy play to first.

Reliever Kris Butler couldn’t get out of the inning, allowing three hits and a walk while recording only one out. Junior Travis Tomsen allowed three runs on four hits in 12⁄3 innings before freshman Kyle Dowdy settled things down, retiring the first four batters he faced.

"I was pleased with him, but the disappointing thing with him is we had the long inning before he went out for his last inning and I asked him if he wanted to go down to the pen to stay warm and he said he was fine," Trapasso said. "Then he goes out there and walks two guys so he lost focus, but it’s something that’s going to happen to freshman and that they’ll learn from."

Trapasso adjusted his lineup for the third straight game, using freshman catcher Trevor Podratz at designated hitter and giving sophomore Conner George the start at first base.

George, who went 0-for-14 as a freshman playing on the left side of the infield, finished 2-for-4 with two runs scored. Podratz singled and scored twice, and Joe Goldenberg ripped a two-run double over the wall in right that would have scored a third runner had the ball stayed in play.

"We really tried to get deep in the zone and drive balls the other way," George said. "After (Saturday) night, which wasn’t a very good night for the team, we tried to stay patient and get pitches that we can hit."

Oregon starter Brando Tessar earned the win in his second career start, allowing four runs on five hits in 6 2⁄3 innings with four walks and three strikeouts.