University of Hawai'i closer Darrell Fisherbaugh said yesterday he will skip his senior season to sign with the Boston Red Sox after the National Baseball Congress World Series in Wichita, Kan.

Fisherbaugh, who confirmed his decision in a telephone interview from Wichita, was drafted in the 50th round by the Red Sox in June. He pitched for the Anchorage Bucs in the Alaska League, where he went 1-0 with a 2.60 earned run average with one save.

Fisherbaugh said he was used in set-up situations. He had 29 strikeouts to 11 walks in 27 2/3 innings, and was named to the Alaska League all-star team.

The right-hander was 3-2 with a 3.13 ERA and a team-leading nine saves for UH this past season. His last game with the Rainbows was in an elimination game of the Corvallis (Ore.) Regional in a 9-5 win against Kansas. He pitched a season-high 5 1/3 scoreless innings of relief with a cut on his thumb because of the way he grips the ball when throwing his changeup (index fingernail pressing against his thumb).

"We'll just have to find someone to step up and fill in that closer's role," UH coach Mike Trapasso said.

When Fisherbaugh signs, he will make it 4 for 4 in UH signings. Catcher Esteban Lopez and outfielder Matt Inouye, both done with eligibility, signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago White Sox, respectively. Pitcher Steven Wright, who like Fisherbaugh still had a year of eligibility left, signed with the Cleveland Indians, who picked him in the second round.

Although Fisherbaugh pitched for the Bucs, he has joined the Peninsula Oilers for the NBC World Series. The Oilers won the Alaska League, but were allowed to pick up players from other Alaska League teams to fill out their roster for the World Series. The Oilers have two players from Hawai'i in Long Beach State catcher Kip Masuda (Mid-Pacific 2005 graduate) and Hawai'i Pacific pitcher Kevin Matsumoto (Kailua High 2005 graduate). Masuda also was named to the Alaska League all-star team.

In other news, for the first time since 2001 or the first time during Trapasso's tenure, the Rainbows will close out the regular season at home with a three-game series against Fresno State on May 18 to 20. The Western Athletic Conference tournament is the following week at a site to be determined.

Hawai'i opens the season the weekend of Jan. 26 to 28 against Santa Clara. Starting with the 2008 season, there will be a uniform starting date for all Division I teams. The starting date likely will be in late February.

Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at skaneshiro@honoluluadvertiser.com.