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Dons Split Doubleheader with Cal Poly
Feb. 28, 2010
(San Luis Obispo, CA) - San Francisco baseball split the doubleheader with Cal Poly on Sunday, en route to a series win at Baggett Stadium. The Dons fell 7-3 in game one, but came back to take a big 11-5 win in game two. USF is playing .500 ball at 3-3. Last year, Cal Poly finished as high as 19 in some polls and took a trip to the Tempe Regional. The Mustangs are expected to be a top team in their conference again this season, as they were picked to finish third by Big West coaches.
Game 1: USF scored first, plating one in the second inning off junior third baseman Stephen Yarrow's first homerun of the year. But the Mustangs scored four in the third to take a lead they wouldn't relinquish.
After Cal Poly added a run in the fourth to make it 5-1, USF added one in the fifth when senior catcher Ryan Lipkin smashed a leadoff homerun. But the Mustangs got it right back in the bottom of the frame. In the eighth, Cal Poly added a final run to make it 7-2 before USF tried to get back into the game in the ninth. Junior center fielder Pete Lavin doubled, and scored on senior shortstop Derek Poppert's fly out to center.
Junior left-hander Matt Lujan (0-1) took the loss. In 4.0 innings, Lujan allowed five earned runs off seven hits and four walks, and added four strikeouts. Sophomore right-hander Mason Radeke (2-0) earned the win, allowing three earned runs off four hits, two walks, and striking out eight Dons.
Four Dons had hits in the contest, with Yarrow and Lipkin homering, Lavin doubling, and junior right fielder Connor Bernatz adding a single.
Game 2: USF came back big in game two, taking an 11-5 win over the Mustangs. Again, the Dons scored quick, plating two in the top of the first. Senior second baseman Robert Abel doubled to start the frame, and moved to third on a wild pitch. Abel then scored on Bernatz's sacrifice to right. An out later, Yarrow smashed his second homerun of the day.
But the Mustangs would tie it up 2-2 in the third. In the top of the next frame, the Dons pushed it to 4-2. With one out, Lavin doubled, then moved to third on sophomore catcher Mason Morioka's double to left center. Abel reached on a bunt single, plating Lavin and moving Morioka to third. Morioka scored on a Bernatz sacrifice bunt.
After Cal Poly cut the lead by one, 4-3 in the fifth, USF broke out for three more in the sixth off an RBI single from senior shortstop Derek Poppert and a two-RBI single from Lipkin. The Dons added another in the seventh on another RBI from Bernatz, and put it out of reach in the eighth with three more. Freshman Jared Denham doubled in two and Lavin added another RBI to make it 11-2.
The Mustangs made an effort to close the gap in the ninth, but fell short, adding just three runs to make it 11-5.
Freshman right-hander Abe Bobb (1-0) took the win in relief. In 2.2 innings, Bobb didn't allow a run off two hits, and struck out two Mustangs. Starter Cameron Love tossed 4.1 innings, giving up three runs (one earned) off five hits and a walk. The sophomore right-hander struck out four in his outing.
Cal Poly's sophomore left-hander Kyle Anderson (0-1) took the loss, allowing five earned runs off nine hits, a walk, and added two strikeouts.
USF smashed a season high 17 hits in the game, led by Yarrow (homerun, two doubles), Lipkin (two doubles and a single), and Lavin (three singles). Abel doubled twice, and Denham doubled and singled. Bernatz and Poppert added singles.
USF returns to action on Tuesday, March 2 at San Jose State. First pitch is set for 6:00 PM.
