Ten minutes after pitching Cal State Bakersfield to a 2-0 baseball victory over Hawaii, left-hander Edgar Barclay was doused with a bucket of iced water.
It was the only time Barclay was cooled off on Sunday afternoon at Les Murakami Stadium.
Barclay, who grew up in Hilo, allowed only one hit — Alex Baeza’s single to lead off the UH sixth — and struck out 10 while walking two.
“Give him credit,” UH coach Mike Trapasso said. “We didn’t hit all weekend. The combination of those two things … but give him all the credit.”
By losing the final three of this four-game series, the Rainbow Warriors dropped to 9-11. The ’Bows completed the 20-game homestand over five weeks, and now will play road games against Ohio State this coming week.
It was a frustrating weekend for the ’Bows, who hit .183. In four games against the Roadrunners, the ’Bows cobbled five of their 22 hits on Saturday and Sunday.
“We’re not hitting,” Trapasso said. “We got four runs on four hits (on Saturday). That’s good enough to give you a chance to win. … We didn’t hit off any of their starters all four games. That’s the story of the weekend, combined that we didn’t take care of the baseball.”
The Roadrunners scored their runs against Dylan Thomas, a closer-turned-starter-turned-reliever. Will Picketts was struck by a pitch, then advanced a base safely when Thomas fielded Tyler Jorgensen’s bunt but threw wildly to second.
“I knew I had to be quick (with the throw),” Thomas said. “I threw it a little low. I got it underneath (shortstop Maaki Yamazaki’s) glove.”
Both runners advanced on a wild pitch. Picketts came home on pinch hitter Daniel Carrizosa’s bunt, and Jorgensen scored on Noah Barba’s RBI single.
“When you lose 2-0, it’s a shame you lose it with a hit batsman and an error,” Trapasso said.
Thomas, who entered with a 1.29 earned-run average, said he felt “a little tired after throwing twice before this weekend.” He vowed to be “back to normal” for the Ohio State series.
Barclay was dominant with a variety of pitches, including a darting slider that he picked up this season. He retired the first 17 batters in order before plunking Tyler Best and Scotty Scott with his 67th and 68th pitches. But he escaped that two-out jam when he induced childhood friend Daylen Calicdan to fly out to right.
Barclay said he was “kind of” aware of the perfect game. “I was trying to focus on one pitch at a time,” he said. “I wasn’t trying to think about it.”
Barclay attended the Big Island’s St. Joseph School, which does not field a baseball team. He played club ball under Kaha Wong, father of former UH and current MLB player Kolten Wong. Barclay attended Central Arizona College and then GateWay Community College before enrolling at CSUB.
“It felt good to be at home,” Barclay said. “Our team had a chance to win the series, with me being on the mound. I tried my best to help us win the series.”
The outcome overshadowed right-handed pitcher Aaron Davenport’s first UH start since March 3. He left a game against Longwood after four innings with what was eventually diagnosed as a strained rotator cuff in his throwing shoulder.
“Nothing too major,” Davenport said of the ailment.
He said a strengthening program enabled him to resume throwing about a week ago. After a bullpen session, Davenport said, “it felt really good. That was the tell I’d be ready today.”
Davenport pitched six shutout innings, allowing one hit. He threw strikes on 64 percent of his 66 pitches.
“He was good,” Trapasso said of Davenport, who will remain in the starting rotation. “I think that’s the lone positive you’ll take out of the day.”