The seeds for next week's Western Athletic Conference softball tournament will be planted this weekend.

Only 1 1/2 games separate the top three teams — Nevada (13-4), Fresno State (13-5) and Hawai'i (12-6) — and New Mexico State (10-7) and Louisiana Tech (10-7) still can affect the final standings.

"We can still end up in second place," UH coach Bob Coolen said. "There are a lot of possibilities."

The Rainbow Wahine close the regular season against Boise State with a game tonight and a doubleheader tomorrow.

These will be the final home games for eight seniors: pitcher Courtney Baughman, catcher Stacey Yamada, third baseman Clare Warwick, infielders Richie-Anne Titcomb and Julie Franklin, and outfielders Tanisha Milca, Julie Franklin and Malamaisaua Manuma.

The WAC tournament will be held in Fresno.

The Rainbows, at 26-22 overall, need a series sweep to move to the bubble of NCAA postseason consideration. A few years ago, the magic victory number was 40. But that was before the NCAA imposed a hard 56-game limit on the regular season — a ceiling that cannot be exceeded even if in-season tournaments require extra games.

"The days of teams playing 70 games are over," Coolen said.

Now, even 30 victories can enter a team into postseason discussions. The Rainbows had five games canceled this year, and will end up with 51 regular-season games.

Freshman Stephanie Ricketts will start at least two games this series. Baughman will start the third. Coolen hopes that Melissa "Me-Gee" Gonzalez will be able to pitch.

Gonzalez was supposed to be in the rotation this season. But a stress fracture in the sole of her left foot — the one she uses to plant — affected her pitching motion.

"She was throwing with only her arm, when she needed to use her legs, too," Coolen said.

The injury has healed, although Gonzalez wears a medical boot as a precaution when she is not playing. Against New Mexico State last week, she allowed one hit in three innings of relief.

During batting practice Wednesday, Ricketts rocketed several shots over the fence. But do not expect Ricketts to bat until next season.

"We don't want to risk the franchise right now," Coolen said.

Instead, it is hoped that Warwick, the WAC's Preseason Hitter of the Year, can break out of a month-long slump. Warwick is hitting .196 (11 of 56) in WAC games. She is hitting .310 in non-conference games.

"In batting practice, Clare looks great," Coolen said. "She needs to translate that into the game."

Coolen also will stick with Traci Yoshikawa at short, despite her .172 WAC average.

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