For the series against Longwood, the Hawaii baseball team is trying to change its status from “complicated.”

“Our idea is to do simple better,” UH coach Mike Trapasso said, emphasizing the hiccups with the starting pitching. “That’s the reason we’ve struggled. We’ve gotten away from simple. We’re trying to do too much. We’re giving hitters too much credit. All we have to do is take what we do in the bullpen and do the exact same thing on the main mound when the hitter’s in the box.”

In eight games, the Rainbow Warriors have a 5.47 earned-run average, allowing 78 hits and 36 walks and plunking nine batters in 74 innings. The starting pitchers have a combined 5.51 ERA.

Trapasso, who doubles as the pitching coach, has crafted a strategy based on the schedule. Jeremy Wu-Yelland will start tonight, Dylan Thomas on Saturday, and Aaron Davenport on Sunday. Because of Monday’s off day and Thursday’s start to the Oregon series, Trapasso will use several pitchers for Tuesday’s game against Longwood.

“It depends on what happens this weekend,” Trapasso said. “I’m going to treat this weekend like a three-game series. If we need to use (Li‘i) Pontes to help us, then we’ll do that, and staff (Tuesday’s) game. Or else Pontes will start (on Tuesday) and probably go three or four (innings) because we’ll be bringing him back on four days’ rest, most likely, to pitch the fourth game against Oregon.”

Wu-Yelland is 1-0 with a 2.61 ERA, best among the starters in the first eight games. Despite flu-like symptoms, Wu-Yelland pitched five hitless innings against Iowa last weekend. “I didn’t feel great, but I went out and tried to give my team the best chance to win,” Wu-Yelland said.

Wu-Yelland has embraced the role of series-opening pitcher. “I always wanted to be that guy,” he said.

Thomas, who led the Big West with 14 saves last year, made two appearances in relief last week after missing the Portland series two weeks ago because of a recurring blister on his pitching hand. Entering the season, Thomas had worked up to 80 pitches per scrimmage. That arm strength and the addition of a change-up have prepared Thomas for the move into the starting rotation. Thomas used to rely mostly on a slider that can break to either side of the plate depending on the pressure point of his grip.

“Having the change-up in my arsenal just gives something for the batters to think about other than just the slider and potentially the fastball,” Thomas said. “Also, being able to throw the fastball more consistently, more often, having those three pitches will help me get through the third or possibly fourth time facing a guy.”

Davenport, a freshman, has worked on his approach. “(Trapasso) said don’t over-complicate things, don’t try to be too fine,” Davenport said. “Just attack the hitters.”

The ’Bows also are seeking improved play at second, a position that was vacated with Dustin Demeter’s offseason hip injury. Four second basemen have combined to hit .250, led by catcher Dallas Duarte’s 3-for-4 against Portland. Freshman Tyler Best, who did not play in the Portland series, hit .267 against Iowa. But Best committed five errors in 27 chances. Minus Best’s miscues, the ’Bows’ fielding percentage is at .975, the team goal. Counting Best’s mistakes, the ’Bows are at .962.

“He was a little outside himself trying to do too much,” Trapasso said of Best. “But he’s going to have to be better, and we’re going to have to be better at second base. … It’s not just the errors he made that go in the book. What’s not seen in the scorebook is there are about four or five double plays that we could have turned, but we did not, that extends pitch counts and costs us runs.”

Jack Kennelly and Daylen Calicdan also have played second. Trapasso said when catcher Tyler Murray returns, Duarte can be used more at second. Murray has been able to catch during bullpen sessions, but his ailing hamate in his left wrist prevents him from batting without restrictions.

“We’re getting to that point where pitchers who are walking guys are getting less innings, and fielders who who are making errors are getting less opportunities,” Trapasso said.