With three conference games remaining, Hawaii hasn’t technically been eliminated from the Big West race.

Yes, it would take a miracle, and then another miracle, for the Rainbow Warriors to end up on top, but considering where they were just two weeks ago, it’s quite an accomplishment just to be in this position.

UH (21-26, 12-9) turned its season around by winning all six games during a two-week road trip to clinch no worse than a .500 record in conference.

One win over Big West co-leader Cal State Fullerton (28-22, 13-5) this weekend would mean a winning record in a league UH had gone just 17-34 over its first two seasons.

"There’s no question that finishing .500 is a major accomplishment for this group," Hawaii coach Mike Trapasso said.

All four teams who finished above .500 in the Big West last year advanced to the NCAA tournament.

Hawaii played itself out of at-large consideration with a 9-17 nonconference record, leaving a regular-season title as its only path to the NCAA playoffs.

Barring a crazy scenario in which UH sweeps Cal State Fullerton, UCSB loses four of its final six games and UC Irvine loses five of its last six, Hawaii’s late-season push won’t be enough to get there.

But they aren’t dead yet, which will make for an exciting atmosphere at Les Murakami Stadium, beginning Friday night, for the final home series of the season.

"We want to win all three games and give ourselves a chance," second baseman Stephen Ventimilia said. "As long as we leave it all out on the field, especially us seniors playing for the last time here, then I’ll be satisfied."

Hawaii has improved dramatically on the mound and at the plate in conference, hitting .267 while posting a 2.95 ERA, which ranks third in the Big West behind UCSB and Fullerton.

Junior Tyler Brashears has won five of his seven starts in league and his 1.42 ERA in 502⁄3 innings trails only Long Beach State’s Chris Mathewson, whom he beat two weeks ago.

Sophomore Quintin Torres-Costa hasn’t given up a run in 171⁄3 innings and his eight saves are double anyone else in conference.

UH doesn’t have a batter hitting .300 over the entire season, but four of its starters are hitting .320 or better in conference games.

Shortstop Jacob Sheldon-Collins is hitting .348 in conference to raise his overall average to a team-best .297.

Hawaii will need all of that to continue against a red-hot Fullerton team that is tied for first with UC Irvine.

Junior Thomas Eshelman, who was recently featured in a Sports Illustrated story detailing his unbelievable command, will start the opener.

Eshelman (6-5, 1.78 ERA) has walked only 17 batters in 3352⁄3 innings in his collegiate career for an average of 0.46 walks per nine innings.

Major leaguers known for their control include all-time greats Cy Young (1.48 walks per nine innings), Christy Mathewson (1.59) and Greg Maddux (1.79), who didn’t come close to Eshelman’s incredible mark.

"He’s had one of the most amazing careers in college baseball history," Trapasso said.

Eshelman had one of his worst outings as a Titan two years ago when he was pulled with one out in the fourth inning after giving up six hits and three runs in a loss to UH.

Fullerton will be without No. 2 starter Justin Garza. The school announced Wednesday he will have Tommy John surgery after tearing a ligament in his elbow.