The Cal Poly baseball team’s favorite number appears to be 808.
“For whatever reason, they’ve had our number since we’ve been in the league,” Hawaii coach Mike Trapasso said.
Since 2013, the Mustangs have won all six Big West series between the teams. The Mustangs have a 14-4 edge in the series, including 7-2 at Baggett Stadium.
“They’re very good at home,” said Trapasso, whose Rainbow Warriors play the Mustangs in today’s opener of a three-game series at Baggett. “They’re good every year down the stretch.”
The Mustangs are 20-21 overall, but they have played a challenging nonconference schedule against Oklahoma, Washington and California. They are atop the Big West with a 10-2 record.
“I’m never surprised by a Larry Lee team being successful,” Trapasso said. “They’re so well coached, and Larry does such a great job. They’re sitting in first place, and they’re always good down the stretch. They’re very formidable every year when you play them at home.”
In the previous three years, the Mustangs closed the Big West at 8-1 in 2018, 7-2 in 2017 and 5-3 in 2016.
“They get it done,” Trapasso said.
The Mustangs have had to overcome the loss of right-hander Jarred Zill, who was averaging 13.7 strikeouts per nine innings before suffering an arm injury. He has not pitched in three weeks. Chase Watkins will start tonight.
The ‘Bows counter with Cade Smith today, Aaron Davenport on Saturday and Logan Pouelsen on Sunday.
Smith, who allowed two earned runs in 61⁄3 innings in his previous start, has moved to the front of the rotation after successfully altering his motion. Davenport also has tweaked his approach.
“I know he only went 41⁄3 (in a previous outing), but I liked the way he pitched,” Trapasso said. “I feel he gives us a chance to maybe get extended and go five or six innings.”
Trapasso is hopeful Pouelsen will make a better lasting impression. In the past two starts, Pouelsen has held the first nine batters to 4-for-17 hitting with no walks. After that, they are 7-for-15 with four walks.
“Logan has fallen into a pattern of starting off well and then really struggling,” Trapasso said. “That’s not for anything particular. The stuff’s good. We need Logan to get us two or three times through the lineup.”
Trapasso said there is a slim possibility Maaki Yamazaki, who missed the past game because of a sore right (throwing) arm, will be available to play shortstop. Trapasso said if Yamazaki cannot play short, there is a possibility he will be used as the designated hitter.
“The second-base experiment is out,” Trapasso said of Yamazaki’s turn at that position. “He wasn’t comfortable. If you can’t throw it at short, you can’t throw it at second, either. You can make the little short throw if you’re going to your left, but he couldn’t turn double plays. … He’s not a second baseman right now.”
Trapasso said the likelihood is backup second baseman Jack Kennelly will move to short. That allows UH to avoid the carousel and keep Ethan Lopez at third, Dallas Duarte at second and Daylen Calicdan in left field.
“I’m not worried about our defense,” Trapasso said. “We’re going to lose a little range without Maaki. But Kennelly is here for this reason as a defensive replacement, as a plus defender. He made some nice plays (against Cal Baptist) on Tuesday.”
BIG WEST BASEBALL
>> Who: Hawaii (19-22, 7-8 BWC) at Cal Poly (20-21, 10-2)
>> When: 3 p.m. today, 1 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. Saturday
>> Where: Baggett Stadium, San Luis Obispo, Calif.
>> TV: None
>> Radio: KKEA, 1420-AM today, Sunday; KHKA, 1500-AM Saturday
>> Streaming: BigWest.TV
