One good or bad series can change the entire complexion of the Western Athletic Conference.

There have been major fluctuations week to week. The Hawaii Rainbows earned a three-game sweep of New Mexico State last week to jump from a tie for fourth into sole possession of first with just six WAC games remaining.

New Mexico State was in contention for a possible at-large berth to the NCAA tournament. Now, the Rainbows are the team out in front.

"The bull’s-eye is on us now and we know it," junior Breland Almadova said.

Hawaii can claim its second consecutive regular-season conference championship with a good outing this weekend against Sacramento State. The series begins at noon today at John Smith Field.

The Hornets have yet to play a single game at Hohokam Field, which has hosted the WAC tournament the past two seasons.

Second-year coach Reggie Christiansen has started to turn things around this season. One victory against the Rainbows would clinch a trip to Mesa, Ariz., for the Hornets.

The Rainbows are only 1-7 in their past eight games at Sacramento State, including a four-game sweep there by the Hornets in 2008.

UH’s NCAA regional team in 2010 lost three of four there to a Hornets team that went 4-16 against the rest of the league.

"For some reason we struggle there, but hopefully we can change that," sophomore Jarrett Arakawa said.

Arakawa and the rest of the Rainbows pitching staff will try to match a dominant weekend against the Aggies, who were No. 1 in the country in scoring before their trip to the islands.

UH moved to sixth in the country with a 2.86 ERA and seventh in walks allowed per nine innings at 2.31.

The Rainbows have won the past five series openers behind ace Matt Sisto (8-3, 2.82 ERA), the reigning WAC pitcher of the week.

Sisto has won his past four decisions and ranks in the top 25 in the country with eight wins and 1.19 walks allowed per nine innings.

The Hornets, who own the best fielding percentage in the country at .981, have a legit power hitter in freshman outfielder Rhys Hoskins, who is batting .362 with nine homers and 44 RBIs.

UH senior Garrett Champion has taken over the primary catching duties, with a .308 batting average in 10 WAC games.

Champion was named the College Sports Madness WAC player of the week after hitting the game-winning RBI double in a 1-0 shutout of NMSU.

Any win in UH’s six remaining league games clinches a spot in the WAC tournament.