’Bows make right moves in edging CS Bakersfield
The Hawaii baseball team made all the right moves in Saturday’s 5-3 victory over Cal State Bakersfield at Hardt Field on the CSUB campus. From crafting a starting lineup of seven right-handed hitters and a switch hitter to rolling with right-handers Hekili Robello and Brody Martin-Grudzielanek, head coach Rich Hill found effective combinations as the Rainbow Warriors evened the three-game series at a win apiece. “That’s the name of the game,” Hill said in a telephone interview.
“Find a way to win. ” Robello allowed three runs in 62⁄3 innings. Martin-Grudzielanek, who made the move to closer a week ago, earned the seven-out save.
“Brody was great at the end,” Hill said. With Roadrunners at the corners with two outs in the eighth, Hill made a mound visit with the intent of calming Martin-Grudzielanek. It turned into a brainstorming session.
“He was the one who brought it up to me on the mound,” Hill said. “He said, ‘I think I can pick this guy off. ’” Martin-Grudzielanek picked off pinch runner Taison Miller at first base to end the eighth inning.
“I thought that pickoff move was super athletic,” Hill said. “He’s a converted shortstop. ” In protecting a two-run lead in the ninth, Martin-Grudzielanek was instructed to go with the sizzle and not the breaking pitches.