HONOLULU – The University of Hawai'i baseball team (26-22, 8-13 BWC) hems up the 2017 campaign with a final homestand and a Senior Weekend matchup against UC Santa Barbara (23-30, 7-14 BWC), Thursday-Saturday, May 25-27 at Les Murakami Stadium. The 'Bows look to snap a five-game losing streak and send seven seniors out with a bang against the Gauchos.
 
The Rainbow Warriors are coming off a tough road finale series at No. 7 and now Big West Champions Long Beach State, taking the first series sweep of the season with two losses decided by a single run. In both games, the Dirtbags were able to get a slight lead early and hold off late rallies by UH.
 
Coming off a College World Series appearance and picked to tie for second with LBSU in the preseason Big West standings, UCSB's season never arrived at the predictions, but that doesn't make them any less dangerous -- UCSB comes to Manoa fresh off an 11-2 win over Southern Cal. The Gauchos will finish under .500 for the first time in seven seasons, but that doesn't make them any less dangerous. UCSB bats .272 as a team and have consistency hitting, but feature only two batters exceeding .300 at the plate. Junior second baseman Colton Burns is the current leader, hitting .302 with 30 runs, 16 RBI and a .411 on-base percentage. However, it's junior first baseman Austin Bush that's the big swinger, batting .295 with a team-high 59 hits, including 12 doubles and a Big West-leading 18 home runs. Bush has racked up a league-leading 54 RBI and a team-best 35 runs.
 
Typically a staple for the Gauchos, the 2017 numbers show a down year in the UCSB pitching staff, which holds a 5.28 team ERA, allowing 5.8 runs per contest. On the other side of the field, the Gauchos score an average of 5.3 runs.
 
As for the Rainbow Warriors, they allow an average of 4.2 runs per game with a Big West second-lowest staff ERA of 3.54, bringing home 4.9 runs on average. At the plate, the 'Bows are currently hitting .267.
 
Leading the scoring charge this season has been the trio of freshman shortstop Dustin Demeter, junior center fielder Dylan Vchulek and Josh Rojas. Demeter paces the team with 27 RBI, batting .297 with a team second-most 49 hits, scoring 27 times. Vchulek ties Rojas for the team scoring lead, crossing the plate 34 times as the most consistent to reach base. Vchulek got aboard an NCAA second-most 44 consecutive times and is leading the team with a .309 average and 60 hits; also batting in 23 runs. Hitting .288 with 24 RBI, Rojas has shown his flash not only on the defensive end at the hot corner, but also hitting for extra bases. The senior third baseman ties for the team lead with five home runs, second with 13 doubles and is the first player to reach six triples since both Jamie Aloy and Tracy Nakano reached that count in 1997.
 
Senior Night for the Rainbow Warriors will be Saturday with a ceremony following the game, as Hawai'i bids aloha to seven seniors in the season finale. Among that group are outfielder Marcus Doi, right fielder Alex Fitchett, relief pitcher Isaac Friesen, starting pitcher Brendan Hornung, relief pitcher Kyle Mitchell, Rojas and closing pitcher Casey Ryan.

In a series dating back to 1985 that has included meetings in the NCAA tournament, the Rainbow Warriors hold a 16-13 advantage over the Gauchos. The series has been fairly even since UH joined the Big West, but last year's UCSB sweep in Santa Barbara tilts the record in the Gauchos direction since 2013, 8-5.

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Series Pitching Matchups
What: Hawai'i Rainbow Warriors (26-22, 8-13 BWC) vs. UC Santa Barbara Gauchos (23-30, 7-14 BWC)
When:  Thursday, May 25, 6:35 p.m. HT
             Friday, May 26, 6:35 p.m. HT
             Saturday, May 27, 6:35 p.m. HT
Where: Honolulu, O'ahu (Les Murakami Stadium)
Television: OC Sports Will Broadcast all three games of the
Live Video Streaming: OC Sports (Game 1) (Game 2) (Game 3)
Radio: All games will be broadcast live on the radio with Jim Leahey and Scott Robbs covering each game on the call. ESPN Honolulu 1420 AM will air all three games. Neighbor islands can listen live on KNUI on Maui, KHLO in Hilo, KKON in Kona and KTOH on Kaua'i.
Audio Webcast: www.ESPN1420am.com
Live Stats: Live in-game stats will be provided by Hawai'i Athletics throughout the series at the links listed below.
        (Game 1)  |  (Game 2)  |  Game 3
Promotions:  California Hotel and Casino is the game sponsor on Thursday and Friday and will award a Vacations Hawaii Vegas Trip for two. Friday's contest will be followed by an autograph session on the field.  University of Hawaii Federal Credit Union is the game sponsor on Saturday for "Senior Night" and will distribute team photos and honor the departing seniors after the game with commemorative plaques. Fans are encouraged to wear  green UH apparel for Senior Night.  Little League teams are invited onto the field to stand alongside the UH baseball players for the National Anthem & Hawaii Pono'i prior to Saturday's game (Check-in 30 minutes prior to first pitch near the Big West Conference logo on the ground level). Throwback Thursday (May 27) will feature discount tickets prices in the upper level (Adults - $5; Senior Citizen - $4; Youth (ages 4 to HS) - $3).  Tickets can be purchased online, calling 944-2697 (option 2), walking up to the Les Murakami Stadium on game day or in advance at the Stan Sheriff Center Box Office.