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Hawaii baseball coach Rich Hill emphasizes focus ahead of a crucial series against UC Davis after a successful week. Pitcher Isaiah Magdaleno, fresh off a standout performance, prepares for the upcoming games.
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Between pitcher Isaiah Magdaleno’s masterful performance a week ago and today’s opener of a key Big West road series, Hawaii baseball coach Rich Hill reminded the Rainbow Warriors to avoid being caught in the wave of emotions.
During a team meeting this week, Hill played the Wheeland Brothers’ acoustic version of “Watching Waves.”
Packed my bags and moved into the moment … find yourself and lose your destination …
“Our bags are packed for the present moment, that kind of thing,” Hill said of the three-game series against UC Davis. “It’s a good visual to kind of understand that we have to bring ourselves right back here, where our feet are.”
After receiving national accolades for a one-hit, 16-strikeout shutout of UC Riverside — and then posing with former UH pitching greats Derek Tatsuno and Gerald Ako — Magdaleno was back at work, weight training and analyzing video and scouting reports of the UC Davis batters.
“Getting back to my routine as quick as I can,” said Magdaleno, who starts in today’s series opener at Phil Swimley Field at Dobbins Stadium.
At 13-11 in the Big West, the ’Bows and Cal State Fullerton are tied for fourth place with six games remaining in the regular season. UH holds the tiebreaker over the Titans. The top five teams qualify for the Big West Tournament. Cal State Northridge is two games back of both.
UC Davis closes the Big West regular season with this series. (Because of the 11-team membership, one Big West team has a bye each week.) The Aggies are in seventh place at 12-15.
“Somebody has to have a bye,” UCD coach Tommy Nicholson said. “Having it the final week is definitely different. It’s hard to schedule. Luckily we were able to find Cal Baptist (for next week). All we’re worried about this weekend is Hawaii and doing the best we can. Hopefully we can put ourselves in a position where we can scoreboard watch and have a chance to get into that conference tournament. We know we’ll probably need some help. That will make it exciting for us if we do what we need to do this weekend.”
The Aggies face a UH team that has won five in a row with co-aces Magdaleno and Hekili Robello, and an improved offensive lineup. Against Big West teams, right-hander Brody Martin-Grudzielanek has a 3.27 ERA and averages 8.18 strikeouts per nine innings.
While Martin-Grudzielanek is an accomplished closer, according to Hill, “I’d love to see him penciled into that lineup as a starting pitcher on Sunday. But it’s winning time, and it’s game by game. … You do what you have to do to win. He’s a premium arm. That breaking stuff has really come on. His competitiveness is off the charts. The moment doesn’t faze him. He’s a perfect late-inning guy and a perfect starter. We’ll have to see how the weekend unfolds. It’ll be nice not to have to use him (as a reliever) on a Friday or Saturday, and start him on Sunday.”
Rich Hill reminded the team to stay focused and avoid getting caught up in emotions after their recent success.
Isaiah Magdaleno had a standout performance, achieving a one-hit, 16-strikeout shutout against UC Riverside.
Rich Hill played the Wheeland Brothers’ acoustic version of 'Watching Waves' to inspire the team.
Isaiah Magdaleno is focusing on weight training, video analysis, and scouting reports of UC Davis batters.

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The ’Bows’ offense also has shown life in recent weeks. Third baseman Tate Shimao has conquered a wrist ailment and is hitting .390 the past 22 games. Outfielder/first baseman Ben Zeigler-Namoa has hit safely in 15 of the past 19 games. After hitting .167 in his first 12 games, freshman Mana Lau Kong is 15-for-38 (.395) the past 13 games to raise his average to .294. Leadoff hitter Kamana Nahaku is batting .191 in 24 Big West games, but he has reached base in 36 of 108 plate appearances. In 19 Big West games, shortstop Taylor Takata is hitting a team-high .349 while striking out 9.8% of his plate appearances. Takata has started in place of shortstop Elijah Ickes, who is recovering from a hairline fracture in his left hand.
“Getting going took some time,” said Takata, who redshirted last year after transferring from Orange Coast College. “It took some work. It’s all part of the process. You just trust it, keep working, keep your head down, and eventually you get rewarded for it.”
The Aggies also have adjusted to injuries. Catcher Evan Gentil has not played since March 13.
“That was a big piece of our team,” Nicholson said of Gentil, who batted third. “He was leading the team in RBIs when he got hurt. A month later, he still was leading the team in homers and RBIs. Behind the plate, his experience was really good. It was a big loss when we lost him.”
Ryan Lee, who had not caught in two years, replaced Gentil.
Keenan Anzai, who has been the Friday starter, did not pitch a week ago after experiencing soreness. Anzai is not expected to be used this weekend. Noel Valdez and Jack Pezzolo have moved up in the rotation. Grayson Bonnano, a swing pitcher who started this past Sunday, is an option for the series finale.
BIG WEST BASEBALL
At Phil Swimley Field at Dobbins Stadium, Davis, Calif.
HAWAII (24-19, 13-11 BIG WEST) AT UC DAVIS (24-24, 12-15 BW)
Schedule: 3 p.m. today, Saturday; 10 a.m. Sunday
TV: None
Radio: 1500-AM/92.7-FM Today, Sunday. 1420-AM Saturday
Streaming: ESPN+