HONOLULU – Following a season-long nine-game homestand, the Hawai'i baseball team heads back to the mainland for an eight-game road trip starting with a nonconference matchup with Cal Baptist Tuesday at 3 p.m. HT. The 'Bows will play a single game against the Lancers before taking on UC Riverside over the weekend in Big West action.
HEAD COACH RICH HILL
At Hawai'i: 47-37, 2nd season
Collegiate Record: 1,126-775-4, 36th season
SERIES VS. CAL BAPTIST
Record: 1-1
Streak: Cal Baptist won 1
Last Meeting: May 23, 2022 (Cal Baptist won, 6-4)
LEADING OFF
DID YOU KNOW?
Randy Abshier is the only Big West pitcher to throw a shutout this year, throwing a two-hitter with nine strikeouts Saturday vs. Long Beach State to earn conference pitcher of the week honors.
BREAK OUT THE BROOMS
Hawai'i is coming off of a huge weekend sweep of Long Beach State to wrap-up a nine-game homestand. The 'Bows used a four-run seventh inning to come from behind in a 6-4 win in game one, before
Randy Abshier tossed a two-hit shutout with nine strikeouts in a 2-0 win Saturday. UH finished off the sweep with a 4-2 win on Sunday, behind another impressive pitching performance thanks to the combined effort of
Harrison Bodendorf,
Alex Giroux and
Connor Harrison. Rainbow Warrior pitching dominated the Dirtbags all weekend, posting a 1.67 ERA in the series while allowing just 15 hits. The 'Bows held Long Beach State scoreless for 19 straight innings from the last two innings of game one through the first eight of the finale, allowing a run in just four innings all weekend. UH also got some timely offense late in games, scoring six of their 12 runs in the seventh inning or later.
Zach Storbakken led the way offensively, hitting .500 (6-for-12) with three doubles and the go-ahead RBI in Saturday's win.
NAIL BITERS
Hawai'i has been in a number of close games this season, especially in this recent stretch. The 'Bows have had 14 games decided by three or fewer runs, including nine games in the last 12 that have been decided by one or two runs. UH is 9-5 in games decided by three runs or less and 5-5 in one-run games, while 10 of the Rainbow Warriors' 15 Big West games have been either one or two-run games, including all three wins over Long Beach State this past weekend.
LATE INNING MAGIC
The Hawai'i bats have come through in the clutch late in games to lead the 'Bows to wins this year. In wins this year, the Rainbow Warriors have scored the go-ahead runs in the sixth inning or later seven times, including four times in the last six wins. UH is also 5-0 in games that have been tied after the sixth inning and 6-0 in games that are tied after five. Additionally, the seven go-ahead run-scoring plays have come off the bat of six different players.
Go-Ahead Scoring Plays in Ws
Jared Quandt – Wright State (2/18), RBI 2B, 8th inning
Jacob Igawa – at Cal Poly (3/17), E9, 10th inning
Kyson Donahue – Tulane (3/24), 2B, 2 RBI, 6th inning
Matthew Miura – CSU Bakersfield (4/8), FC, RBI 8th inning
Dallas Duarte – UC San Diego (4/14), 2B, RBI, 8th inning
Jacob Igawa – Long Beach State (4/21), 1B, 2 RBI, 7th inning
Zach Storbakken – Long Beach State (4/22), 2B, RBI, 8th inning
MIX & MATCH
After using 50 different batting lineups in 52 games a year ago, head coach RICH HILL again has a ton of options offensively in 2023, having used 30 different lineup combinations through the first 32 games of the season.
» No UH player has been in the same spot in the lineup in every game.
» All nine spots in the lineup have had at least three different players start in them.
» 13 different players have started in the No. 8 hole while nine have started in the No. 9 spot.
FRIDAY NIGHT HARRY
Sophomore
Harry Gustin has locked down the role of Friday night starter over the course of the season. The lefty leads the team with 48 strikeouts over 50.2 innings pitched, and holds a 3.20 ERA and a 2-2 record over nine starts and 10 total appearances. His 2.22 ERA in conference play ranks fifth in The Big West while his seven runs allowed are the fewest by any pitcher that has throwing at least 25.0 innings in league play. After not making it into the fifth inning in two of his first three starts, Gustin has worked into the fifth in each of his last six, with five of those outings going 5.2 innings or longer.
» Owns a 2.16 ERA with 25 strikeouts over 25.0 innings and 13 hits allowed in his last four home starts.
» Named Big West Pitcher of the Week after working seven innings with eight strikeouts and giving up just one run on one hit, taking a no-hitter into the seventh inning vs. Tulane on March 24.
» The starting pitcher in two of UH's three shutout victories, working 5.2 scoreless innings in both starts.
FILTHY FRESHMAN
Harrison Bodendorf has been a key piece of the Rainbow Warrior pitching staff during the first half of his freshman year. On the season, the lefty is 5-1 with a 2.68 ERA and 39 strikeouts over 37.0 innings pitched with a .226 batting average against. Bodendorf ranks second in The Big West with a 1.96 ERA in conference play and is one of two pitchers to be 4-0 in league games. The Temecula, Calif. native has been especially impressive in the past month, posting strong numbers in his last seven appearances.
STEPPING UP IN CONFERENCE PLAY
The Rainbow Warrior pitching staff has started to hit their stride in Big West play, leading the conference with a 3.81 ERA in league games. UH has limited opponents to three or fewer runs in eight of the 15 Big West games, highlighted by a league-best three shutouts. Additionally, two Hawai'i pitchers rank in the top five of the league in conference ERA, with
Harrison Bodendorf in second with a 1.96 ERA and
Harry Gustin in fifth with a 2.22 ERA.
»
Randy Abshier is 3-0 in Big West play with a 3.58 ERA and 24 strikeouts to just six walks.
» He earned Big West Pitcher of the Week honors after tossing a two-hit shutout with nine strikeouts vs.
Long Beach State on Saturday, becoming the first Big West pitcher to throw a shutout this year.
» Abshier and Bodendorf have combined to go 7-0 in Big West games, with Bodendorf sitting a 4-0 and Abshier at 3-0.
» UH has also won a pair of 1-0 games, beating Cal Poly in 10 innings in the conference opener on March 17 and UC San Diego on Apr. 14.
