For a little more than half of coach Gene Stephenson's 30-year tenure as Wichita State's coach, the Shockers have become somewhat of a tradition for Hawai'i baseball. Every other year since 1981, the Shockers have been on the Rainbows' schedule.

But with the uniform starting date — pushed to late February — beginning with next season, the Shockers' biennial trip here might be over.

"It's a sad day for me, personally, because I always love coming here every other year," Stephenson said.

Rainbows coach Mike Trapasso added he enjoys playing the Shockers.

"I like Gene (Stephenson), I like Brent (Kemnitz, pitching coach)," Trapasso said. "I told them any time they want to come, just let us know and we'll make the room."

The No. 12 Shockers (5-2) begin a three-game series with the Rainbows (9-3) starting tonight at Les Murakami Stadium. The Shockers lead the series, 17-15.

The uniform date was made so that warmer climate teams would not have a scheduling advantage over teams from colder regions. While Stephenson favors the new rule, he said Hawai'i should be allowed to start a week or two earlier and give its opponents special dispensation.

"It will give Hawai'i an opportunity to have a week or two leeway to start just a hair earlier," Stephenson said. "But that's not for me to say."

The Shockers aren't on UH's schedule in the near future; the earliest might be 2010, Stephenson said. He said the condensed schedule causes logistical problems for his team to travel here.

Hawai'i and Wichita State started playing each other in 1980. They played again in 1981 and continued the every other season trend since.

When WSU plays here early in the year, it is to get away from the cold. This road trip began last weekend with a three-game series in Malibu, Calif., against Pepperdine, which took 2 of 3. Earlier this week, the Shockers swept a four-game series at UH-Hilo.

The last series UH and WSU played was in 2003, when the Shockers took 2 of 3. But one series Stephenson remembers was in 1999, when the Shockers, ranked No. 1 in preseason, were swept in three games by UH.

"It's always tough to come here and play head-up with Hawai'i (in a) three-game series when we haven't been outside," Stephenson said. "Traditionally, we haven't fared well when we've done that."

The Shockers, picked to finish second in the Missouri Valley Conference, return seven position starters and three of their starting pitchers.

"I think we have a chance to be very good later on," Stephenson said. "We're not very good now. Part of that has to with we've haven't been outside until we went to Pepperdine last weekend. And we looked like it. We do a lot of things that are uncharacteristic of good teams."

Meanwhile, UH had flu issues with third baseman Justin Frash and outfielder Derek DuPree. But Trapasso said they are expected to be ready for tonight's game.

Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at skaneshiro@honoluluadvertiser.com.