Feb. 26, 2008

Final Stats

(Sacramento, CA) - San Francisco managed a season high in runs, defeating the Sacramento State Hornet 12-4 on Tuesday afternoon at Hornet Field. The victory is USF's (3-2) eighth consecutive win over Sac State (1-2), and third consecutive win this season.

Dons' pitchers combined for 13 strikeouts and limited the Hornets to just eight hits, while the offense exploded for 13 hits, including three doubles and two homeruns. USF's offense has scored 29 runs in the past three games.

Junior left-hander Evan Fredrickson (1-1) earned the win, allowing three runs off five hits and a season high nine strikeouts. Freshman LHP Garrett Luippold allowed the final run in the ninth off two hits. Sophomore RHP Alex Kalogrides pitched a scoreless inning of relief, striking out two, and freshman righty Sean Burns threw an inning with one strikeout.

Junior third baseman Dane Braunecker went 2-for-4 with two RBI, three runs scored, and a 2-run homerun. Sophomore catcher Ryan Lipkin was 2-for-3 with two RBI and a run scored. Senior right fielder Kyle Morgan went 1-for-1 with a three-run homerun. Senior second baseman Joey Railey and sophomore center fielder Bobby Ethel each had two hits with a double. Ethel is the Dons leading batter with a .500 average.

USF started the scoring with a run in the top of the second and then plated five in the third. Railey singled and advanced to second when Braunecker was hit by a pitch. Junior left-fielder Zach Kim laid down a sacrifice bunt to move the runners over. Railey then scored when senior first baseman Mitchell Bialosky reached base on an error. Braunecker scored on a balk before senior designated hitter Matt Lieb walked to put runners on first and second. Morgan then blasted a three-run bomb to right-center field.

Sacramento State put up two runs in the bottom of the frame, but was answered by the Dons with one in the fourth and four in the fifth. In that inning, Morgan and senior shortstop Tavo Hall walked and advanced an extra base on a wild pitch. Lipkin singled to left, scoring Morgan. Hall scored on a ground out by Ethel. An out later, Braunecker homered to left, scoring Lipkin.

The Dons added a final run in the seventh to solidify the win.

Hornets' freshman RHP Brandon Sandoval took the loss, allowing five runs (four earned) off three hits and three walks in 2.1 innings.

USF travels to No. 20 UC Irvine this weekend for three. Friday's game is set for 6:00 PM.