SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – The University of Hawai'i baseball team (26-22, 10-11 BWC) travels back to the mainland on Tuesday to prepare for its final Big West series of the 2018 campaign, heading to Caesar Uyesaka Stadium for a three-game season-ending set at UC Santa Barbara (25-27-1, 8-13 BWC). The series will run from Thursday-Saturday, May 24-26.
 
Although the Rainbow Warriors were not able to win the final home series, Hawai'i came out with the home finale victory on Senior Day, securing the second consecutive winning season with timely hitting and shutdown pitching. Now the focus is capturing the program's first-ever winning Big West season in Santa Barbara.
 
Shortstop Maaki Yamazaki continues his steady rise over the past two months, leading the 'Bows with a .320 average and 57 hits, collecting 10 doubles and a team-leading 31 runs. The junior from Tokyo, Japan has logged a base knock in 24 of the last 30 games and has reached base in each of the last nine outings.
 
Held out of action on Sunday after a collision with the wall at Les Murakami Stadium, Dylan Vchulek is likely to be in center field for his final UH career series, hitting .296 overall and .396 against conference foes, while producing 21 runs for UH. The biggest slugger for UH, Adam Fogel's swing is back in play and he's batting .290 with a Big West second-most 17 doubles, two triples and the most home runs (7) since Kolten Wong in 2011. Coming down the stretch on a big-hitting season, over 49 percent of Fogel's hits have gone for extra bases, helping him to a team-high 33 RBI.
 
On the mound, the 'Bows tie for the fourth-best ERA in the league and right-hander Jackson Rees has been the most consistent starting performer for UH. He returned for his second start of the weekend on Sunday after being knocked out of Friday's opener by an errant throwback that opened a facial cut. He's running a 3.56 ERA, 5-3 record and 56 strikeouts.
 
While the remainder of the starting rotation remains in flux with injury setbacks, who's closing the games is a certainty. Sophomore Dylan Thomas ties for seventh in the nation with 14 saves and also ties the Lenny Linsky for the UH single-season record. He's got a team-leading 1.22 ERA with 43 strikeouts to two walks.
 
The Gauchos earned the win on Monday over Portland but are a hungry squad that's fallen in seven of their last nine Big West outings. Center fielder Tommy Jew is getting it done for UCSB, hitting .309 with team highs of 63 hits and 40 RBI, recording 10 doubles and 30 runs, while also stealing 12 bases. Shortstop Clay Fisher leads with 32 runs and shows speed with 10 doubles and five triples, stealing a team-high 13 bases. UCSB is a young team with 23 underclassmen among the group. The Gauchos are hitting .258 as a team and are creating 8.7 hits and 5.2 runs per game.
 
UCSB has a 4.19 team ERA and allow 9.1 hits and 5.0 runs per outing. They have a pair of gritty starters who have proved steady components for the rotation in right-hander Steve Ledesma (6-3, 2.94 ERA, 54 SO) and right-hander Chris Lincoln (2-3, 3.09 ERA, 52 SO).
 
The 'Bows have a 19-14 all-time record against UC Santa Barbara, including a series win last year in Honolulu. The programs first met in 1985.
 
University of Hawai'i Games 49-51
What: Hawai'i Rainbow Warriors (26-22, 10-11 BWC) at UC Santa Barbara Gauchos (25-27, 8-13 BWC)
When:  Thursday, May 24, 12:00 p.m. HT
              Friday, May 25, 12:00 p.m. HT
              Saturday, May 26, 11:00 a.m. HT
Where: Santa Barbara, Calif. (Caesar Uyesaka Stadium)
Live Streaming: All three games will be streamed on BigWest.tv.
Radio: All games will be broadcast live on the radio from Santa Barbara with Scott Galetti. The first and third games will air on ESPN Honolulu 1420 AM, while Friday's game will air on NBC Sports 1500 AM.
Audio Webcast: www.ESPN1420am.com | www.NBCSportsRadioHawaii.com
Live Stats: Live in-game stats will be provided by UC Santa Barbara Athletics throughout the series at the links listed below.

Game 1

Game 2

Game 3