No doubt, Matt Daly likes to flex his muscle with a 90-plus mph fastball. But it is his flexibility that makes him valuable to the Hawai'i baseball team.

In his two appearances totaling nine innings, the sophomore right-hander has allowed just one run, seven hits and three walks with eight strikeouts. Five innings came in a start against Santa Clara in which he had a no-decision. The other four came in relief to preserve the lead for starter Mark Rodrigues last Friday in a win against Georgia Southern. Equally effective outings from two different situations.

"My main thing is that I really think that the way I'm pitching now, whatever role they have is really the best the coach can do for winning a ball game," Daly said of his dual roles. "Either way, I just love getting into a game and competing as much as I can."

With Ian Harrington and Rodrigues securing starting spots the first two days of a series, the third is usually up in the air, although Josh Schneider has earned Sunday's start against Pacific after his five scoreless innings against Georgia Southern last Sunday. Until now, the third starter didn't know he would start until after first two games. Role-playing has its challenges.

"It's good to have a guy that has that capability, that mentality of pitching in different roles," UH coach Mike Trapasso said. "Some guys struggle with that."

While Daly said he would like to start, as most pitchers do, he along with the other pitchers, understand their roles are geared for the big picture: winning. Steven Wright was used primarily in the bullpen his first two seasons at UH. When he was summoned to start his junior year, he was more than prepared, going 11-2 with a 2.30 earned run average. He was the Western Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Year and an All-American. Wright is in town and met with Trapasso the other day.

"Steven even mentioned that he had a hard time his sophomore year in the starter's role and felt more comfortable and more effective out of the pen," Trapasso said. "It took him another year of maturing and understanding, that it's a different role for him to become comfortable as a starter."

The same success could happen for Daly.

"I won't be surprised if Matt's starting before the year's out," Trapasso said. "He's more effective out of the bullpen, but I'd definitely look at him next year as one of our starters."

Daly was signed out of Esperanza High in the heavy-talent base of Southern California. He said he had also been recruited by Southern California, Long Beach State, Cal State Fullerton and UC Irvine, to name a few. But he chose the Rainbows because he saw a program with a promising future, only accelerated last season when UH made the NCAA Regionals for the first time since 1993.

The pros tempted him. He said Tampa Bay offered him close to $200,000 if he would sign as a sixth-rounder. They called again before the 15th round offering more.

"It was tough, especially when they throw the figures in front of you," Daly said. "I'm a religious person. I just prayed about it and I ended up coming to a decision with my family that it would be best to get a couple of years education."

At 5 feet 10 and 185 pounds, Daly is armed with an 87- to 94-mph fastball.

"He's a great example that size isn't the main factor," Trapasso said. "It's hand speed. He's able to generate a lot of hand speed at the point of release. He's got a quick arm, a loose arm and that allows him to generate some velocity."

Daly said he has been blessed with a live arm since his youth league days. He credits one of his former youth coaches, Mike Kiefer, for teaching him the proper mechanics. He has tutored Daly all the way through high school.

"I still talk to him now and then," Daly said. "He's always checking (our) scores and everything."

If Daly keeps pitching the way he does, Kiefer will have a lot to read about this season.

Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at skaneshiro@honoluluadvertiser.com.