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JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO@STARADVERTISER.COM
Hawaii pitcher Brendan Hornung pitched against Sacred Heart during the first inning on Friday.
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University of Hawaii senior right-hander Brendan Hornung was named the Big West Conference’s pitcher of the week on Monday.
On Friday, Hornung struck out 14 — matching the high during Mike Trapasso’s 16 seasons as UH head coach — in a 4-1 victory over Sacred Heart. He struck out seven in a row, from the fourth inning through sixth, and retired the final 22 batters.
Trapasso described it as the best-pitched game during his UH coaching career.
Trapasso, who calls the UH pitches each game, noted Hornung relied on first-pitch fastballs to get ahead of the count and mostly split-fingered pitches for strikeouts. Hornung threw first-pitch strikes to 24 of 30 batters.
Hornung said he has adjusted his approach. In the past, when the target is the corner of the plate, he would aim for that spot and settle for a ball if the pitch broke outside. “I changed it where, if I get away, I’d rather miss over the plate and low than miss out for a ball,” he said. “It helps. You get ahead and you get some contacts.”
The Rainbow Warriors play Indiana on Wednesday in the opener of a four-game series at Les Murakami Stadium.
