UH baseball clinches spot in Big West Tournament with shutout of CSUN

TL;DR

The Hawaii baseball team secured a spot in the Big West Tournament by defeating Cal State Northridge 4-0, thanks to Isaiah Magdaleno's one-hit, 14-strikeout shutout. The victory improved their record to 15-13 in the Big West, placing them in fourth place.

Key points

Hawaii baseball defeated CSUN 4-0
Isaiah Magdaleno pitched a one-hit shutout
The team improved to 15-13 in the Big West
Hawaii secured a postseason berth
The Big West Tournament is in Irvine, California

Mentioned in this story

Irvine, CaliforniaIsaiah MagdalenoBen Zeigler-NamoaRich Hill

Hawaii Rainbow WarriorsCal State NorthridgeBig West Tournament

The Hawaii baseball team parlayed an all-in move with its ace Wednesday into a postseason berth.

Isaiah Magdaleno pitched a one-hit, 14-strikeout shutout as the Rainbow Warriors beat Cal State Northridge 4-0 and clinched a berth in next week’s five-team Big West Tournament in Irvine, Calif.

“Unreal feeling,” outfielder/first baseman Ben Zeigler-Namoa said of returning to the league tournament. “Gratitude, obviously. The job’s not done.”

A crowd of 1,930 at Les Murakami Stadium saw the ’Bows improve to 15-13 in the Big West with two games remaining in the regular season. They moved into sole possession of fourth place, a half-game ahead of Cal State Fullerton, which opens a three-game series tonight against UC San Diego.

The ’Bows needed to win once in this three-game series to secure a postseason berth. The UH coaching staff debated whether to go with Magdaleno, the usual series-opening starter, on four days’ rest, give him additional rest or use him as a reliever. Thirty-five minutes ahead of the 6:39 p.m. first pitch, UH coach Rich Hill submitted the lineup with Magdaleno on the mound.

“Four days’ rest is what major league guys do,” Hill said. “There are people in the big leagues who are Mags’ age. We toyed with a lot of things. Bringing him in to close, starting some other guys, moving him back a day, starting him on five days’ rest. Ultimately we came to the conclusion that he’s on such a roll, he’s so comfortable as a starter, it really wasn’t going to matter if he bumped up a day or two days.”

The outcome also means Magdaleno will have a full week’s rest for next Wednesday’s tournament opener.

“We’re playing to win this thing, not just to represent,” said Hill, referencing the Big West winner earns an automatic berth in the NCAA Tournament. “He’s going to be rested and ready to go on Wednesday.”

Magdaleno continue his three-week artistry. The right-handed junior entered allowing one run and four hits in 17 innings covering the past two starts. On a 79-degree Wednesday night, Magdaleno did not allow a hit until Mateo Rickman’s 10-pitch single to right to open the fifth inning.

“I’ve been around Brian Matusz, who was the equivalent of the Heisman Trophy winner for pitchers in 2008,” Hill said. “But I’ve never seen a consistent three-week performance like Mags’. Adjectives? There are none to really describe what he’s done in the three weeks. Crazy.”

Magdaleno was fueled by a pregame omelet, his visiting family’s support, and a menu of fastballs, changeups and curves.

“I tried to stay consistent with the work,” said Magdaleno, who adheres to a routine of shoulder and forearm workouts to complement his video studies. “It’s been paying off. Might as well keep it going.”