The bags and equipment were stowed on the airport-bound bus, the check list was double checked and then … a mongoose attacked a bird several yards away from a news conference at Les Murakami Stadium.
An omen? A metaphor for nature’s fight-or-flight situations? It was a startling sendoff for the Hawaii baseball team, which departed Honolulu on Monday ahead of Wednesday’s single-elimination game against UC Santa Barbara in the Big West Championship tournament in Fullerton, Calif.
“It’s playoff baseball, just like the big leagues,” UH coach Rich Hill said. “Starters become relievers, vice versa.”
UH closer Isaiah Magdaleno said: “I’m super excited … my whole team is excited. We’re ready to go out there and go back to playing the game, keeping it simple as much as we can.”
To qualify for the five-team event, it came down to a winner-take-all showdown between the Rainbow Warriors and UC San Diego, both with 15-14 records, on Sunday. UC Irvine, Cal Poly, Cal State Fullerton and UC Santa Barbara already had earned berths when the ’Bows ran onto the field for Sunday’s first pitch.
Shortstop Jordan Donahue’s grand slam sparked a six-run third inning as the ’Bows ran away to a 13-2 victory. Despite an 11-run lead, UH coach Rich Hill summoned Magdaleno to pitch the ninth to cement the tournament berth. Magdaleno, as expected, retired the side in order.
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“Isaiah brings a tough mindset to that closer’s role,” Hill said.
Hill expects the ’Bows to maintain that approach against UCSB, which has a dynamic pitching staff led by Tyler Bremner and Jackson Flora. “We don’t know who they’re going to start, we don’t know who we’re going to start,” Hill said. “We’re going to compete, I know that, and so are they.”
It will be familiar territory for the ’Bows. Two weeks ago at Goodwin Field — the same venue as the Big West Tournament — the ’Bows won two of three against Cal State Fullerton.
“What is a big factor is our backs have been up against the wall,” Hill said. “When playoff teams in baseball, football and basketball go through that mentality and have that experience, as opposed to a team that’s had a layoff or knows they’re in, I think it’s an advantage. Our guys are battle tested. This past Sunday, with that showdown, winner take all, really proved that we’re ready.”