It wasn't supposed to end this way.

Hawai'i's final homestand of the season against Fresno State this weekend was supposed decide the Western Athletic Conference regular season champion — between the two teams. They were preseason co-favorites by the league's coaches.

But a recent slump against conference opponents has left the Rainbows (31-22 overall, 9-12 WAC) too far behind the first-place Bulldogs (31-25, 16-5), who can clinch the title outright with two wins or a win and a loss by second-place Nevada (14-10).

After losing to the Bulldogs in last year's championship game of the WAC tournament in Fresno, the Rainbows certainly don't want to watch another celebration, especially on their soon-to-be-replaced turf at Les Murakami Stadium.

"We had to watch them celebrate last year when they clinched," UH senior first baseman Kris Sanchez said. "And this year, especially playing at home, we don't want that to happen."

Although their conference records say otherwise, not much separates the teams. Last month in Fresno, the Rainbows took the series opener, 9-8. Rain forced a doubleheader on the third day and the Bulldogs twice beat UH in the bottom of the ninth for heart-breaking 6-5 and 4-3 losses. A timely hit here and better pitch there, the series could've gone the other way. So for the Rainbows, it's just a matter of playing like the team that won 31 games rather than the one that lost 22.

"We want to play well," UH coach Mike Trapasso said. "More than anything else, we want to prepare for next week (for the WAC tournament), try to find that combination of things that get us playing like we're capable of playing again."

The six-team WAC tournament starts a week from today in Reno, Nev. The tournament champion is awarded the automatic regional berth. Fresno State, Nevada, Louisiana Tech, UH, San Jose State and Sacramento State are in the tourney.

TATSUNO TO BE HONORED

Former Rainbow Derek Tatsuno, who will be inducted into the College Baseball Hall of Fame in July, will throw out the ceremonial first pitch before Sunday's game, scheduled for 1:05 p.m.

Tatsuno confirmed last night that he had been asked by UH earlier this week.

Tatsuno was college baseball's first 20-game winner in 1979, a mark since tied in 1986 by Florida State's Mike Loynd. Tatuno's 234 strikeouts still stands as a national record. He is one of three Players of the Century selected by Collegiate Baseball Magazine and was named to Baseball America's All-Century team.

NEW TURF

Hawai'i is expected to announce today plans to replace the artificial turf at Murakami Stadium.

A spokesman from Gov. Linda Lingle's office said UH was to issue a press release regarding the improvements.

The turf, about 13 years old, is literally coming apart at the seams, which are visible from the farthest seats in the stadium.

Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at skaneshiro@honoluluadvertiser.com.