Just how uncharacteristic were Hawaii’s 13 errors in four games against Oregon last weekend?
Last season, UH didn’t commit its 13th error until the Big West opener on March 28 against UC Santa Barbara — a span of 22 games.
Shortstop Austin Wobrock and second baseman Stephen Ventimilia combined to make seven against the Ducks, three more than they had in 90 combined games last year.
So how does a team normally so good defensively suffer through so many mistakes in one series?
"Sometimes you miss one and then it gets in your head, and that’s how it was," Wobrock said. "You can’t play not to make an error or not to get booed. You’ve got to realize that you have to go all out and if you make the error, so what, I was going 120 percent and I was going hard and that’s what we didn’t do (against Oregon). We were timid."
UH (0-4) will try to change that, beginning Thursday night when it plays Albany in the first of a four-game series at Les Murakami Stadium.
The Great Danes had all of their games snowed out last weekend in North Carolina, so they will make their season debut in Hawaii, where they have never played.
Albany is just the second team UH has ever played from the American East Conference. The Rainbows hosted Maine in 1990.
"They’re a mystery. They do have a couple of good arms," Hawaii coach Mike Trapasso said.
Freshman right-hander Stephen Woods, slated to start Sunday’s finale, was a sixth-round pick by the Tampa Bay Rays in last summer’s MLB draft.
He’s scheduled to oppose UH junior Scott Squier (0-0, 2.57 ERA), who moves back a spot in the rotation so that he can pitch in relief in any of the first three games.
"We’re going to use Scotty in the pen in the first three games if that’s what it takes," Trapasso said. "If there’s a save situation early in the series, Scott fits that role because he’s got the type of mentality and the type of stuff to be that closer and he has the arm to come back and start on Sunday."
UH was limited out of the bullpen against the Ducks, but will get a lift from junior Andrew Jones, who is expected to pitch in relief for the first time since last season’s opening series against Oregon.
Jones is the first of two pitchers to have Tommy John surgery that UH will welcome back at some point this season.
Freshman Quintin Torres-Costa pinch-hit in Monday’s finale against Oregon but is still a few weeks away from returning to the mound.
"(Jones) threw a simulated game a couple of days ago and looked good, felt good, threw strikes, and giving him three to four days of rest after that, he should be ready to be available to throw an inning or two on Saturday or Sunday," Trapasso said.
The Great Danes are picked to finish fifth in their seven-team conference.
"We’re not going to take anyone for granted," Wobrock said. "If we play like we did against Oregon and eliminate those errors, we’re going to win a lot of games."
RAINBOW WARRIOR BASEBALL At Les Murakami Stadium
>> Who: Albany (0-0) vs. Hawaii (0-4) >> When: Thursday-Friday, 6:35 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday, 1:05 p.m. >> TV: None >> Radio: KHKA 1500-AM (Thursday); KKEA 1420-AM (Friday-Sunday) Probable starters >> UA: LH Kevin Archbold; RH Cameron Sorgie; RH Matt Gallup; RH Stephen Woods >> UH: RH Matt Cooper (0-0, 0.00); LH Jarrett Arakawa (0-0, 4.50); RH Scott Kuzminsky (0-1, 9.00); LH Scott Squier (0-0, 2.57)
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