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Baseball Tops Houston 3-2
March 16, 2010
(San Francisco, CA) - USF baseball earned its third consecutive win, topping Houston 3-2 at Benedetti Diamond on Tuesday afternoon. The Dons (10-8) managed seven hits on the day, and have 36 in their last three games. Houston, coming into Tuesday's meeting on a six-game win-streak, fell to 8-6.
The Cougars took a 1-0 lead in the first, scoring on a sacrifice fly from second baseman Austin Gracey. USF didn't take long to reciprocate, taking a 3-1 lead in the bottom of the frame.
With one out, junior right fielder Connor Bernatz walked and promptly stole second. Senior shortstop Derek Poppert walked, followed by a single off the bat of junior third baseman Stephen Yarrow to load the bases. Senior catcher Ryan Lipkin was hit by a pitch to score Bernatz before freshman right fielder Jared Denham doubled to left. Denham's team and conference leading ninth double plated Poppert and Yarrow.
Both teams traded zeros until the fifth when UH cut the lead by one after an RBI single to center from Gracey.
Dons pitchers had to battle through a few tough innings, but pulled through. Junior right-hander Jonathan Abramson (1-0) earned his first win of the season, giving up one earned run off three hits, and adding a strikeout in 1.1 relief innings. Freshman right-hander Haden Hinkle (1) earned his first career save, tossing 4.0 scoreless innings with one strikeout. Sophomore left-hander Jordan Remer made his first career start, allowing one earned run off three hits, with two strikeouts in 3.2 innings.
Houston's Taylor Hammack (1-1) took the loss, giving up all three earned runs off five hits and three walks, and added five strikeouts in 5.0 innings.
Denham led the way for the Dons at the plate, going 3-for-3 with a double, a walk, and two RBI. Yarrow had two hits, adding his fifth double of the season. Lipkin and sophomore first baseman Nik Balog singled in the contest. Bernatz's steal was his first on the year.
USF travels to UC Riverside this weekend for a three-game set. Friday's first pitch is set for 7:00 PM, followed by a 2:00 PM start on Saturday 1:00 PM on Sunday.































