UH baseball team to test itself again with visit to Oregon State

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Even in the middle of an 11-day, seven-game road trip, Hawaii baseball coach Rich Hill sticks to a routine.

“My personal workout of ice bath, breath work and sauna,” Hill said. “It’s my contrast therapy.”

It will be needed preparation as Hill’s scrappy Rainbow Warriors continue a week of college baseball’s elites. After battling in a 12-7 loss to top-ranked UCLA on Tuesday, the ’Bows now take the fight to the Northwest to play Oregon State. The sixth-ranked Beavers are 12-3 at Goss Stadium on the Corvallis, Ore., campus.

“It’s a tough place to play, a very hostile environment,” Hill said.

But after playing four consecutive games on a grass field, Hill said, “we’re back on turf. The weather should be nice. We’re looking forward to the opportunity.”

As part of a bye week from Big West competition, the ’Bows opted to stay on the mainland after a series against Cal State Bakersfield last weekend, during which UH won two of three. Because of the difficulty in playing mid-week games at Les Murakami Stadium, Hill agreed to play a one-off Tuesday game against UCLA. The ’Bows also were able to fulfill a home-and-home agreement with Oregon State. UH and OSU played a four-game series in Hawaii last year.

Despite losing to UCLA, the ’Bows exited Jackie Robinson Stadium with renewed confidence. The ’Bows scored the game’s first run, and fought back every time the Bruins extended their lead.

“We get 12 hits, hit a couple home runs, doubles,” Hill said. “Just every inning we’re punching back, punching back. Offensively, you can grade that thing out as an A.”

Hill added: “It’s like a football game. You can divide these things into different phases of the game. Same thing with baseball. It’s offense, defense, pitching and baserunning. We just add that last one along with our energy. I thought all phases of the game, except pitching, we were outstanding. You may not get a W on the scoreboard, but there were some Ws in different phases of the game, which helps to build confidence that we can play with any team in the country, especially on the road.”

After being shut out a week ago by Cal State Bakersfield, the ’Bows are hitting .325 in the ensuing three games. Kamana Nahaku hit .357 and scored six runs during that span. In the past three games, freshman Mana Lau Kong is hitting .545 with three strikeouts in 11 at-bats. In his first 15 games, Lau Kong hit .186 with a strikeout rate of 53.1%.

“He looks like a different guy,” Hill said of the 6-6, 245-pound ‘Iolani graduate. “It’s night and day where he is right now. It’s a credit to him. He’s worked so hard at this thing and had such a positive attitude. He always has a smile on his face. He’s very coachable. It’s paid off. You can see the confidence that he carries into the box. It’s much more balanced. With a guy like that, the exit velocity is so special that, much like minor league guys, you’ve got to stay patient and work them through. He’s got a good career ahead of him.”