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Diamond Dons Take 5-1 Victory Over No. 7 Cal in Dante Benedetti Classic
April 1, 2008
(San Francisco, CA) - Three games, three wins. AT&T Park has been good to the Dons as they win their third consecutive Dante Benedetti Classic, presented by BMW of San Francisco, 5-1 over No. 7 California (18-6-1) on Tuesday night. San Francisco (17-11) defeated a top 10 opponent for the first time since dispatching No. 9 Nebraska 5-1 in the 2006 Lincoln Regional.
Junior left-hander Evan Fredrickson (3-2) had a career day at AT&T, throwing 13 strikeouts in the win. The Virginia Tech transfer threw 7.0 scoreless innings, scattering four hits and four walks. Fredrickson got into some trouble in both the second and third, but managed to get out of the innings without allowing a run. Freshman lefty Garrett Luippold gave up the Bears only run in the ninth.
USF had a big first inning, plating five against Bears sophomore starter Chris Petrini (2-2), and held off the Bears the rest of the way. With one out, freshman left fielder Connor Bernatz, senior right fielder Kyle Morgan, senior first baseman Mitchell Bialosky, and sophomore catcher Ryan Lipkin consecutively singled, staking the Dons to an early 1-0 lead. Junior designated hitter Drew Johnson was hit by a pitch, scoring Morgan before junior third baseman Dane Braunecker walked to plate Bialoksy. After a pitching change, sophomore center fielder Bobby Ethel reached base on an error by Bears junior shortstop Michael Brady. Johnson scored on the play to make it 5-0.
Cal threatened in the third, getting bases loaded with two outs, but Fredrickson was able to strike out Brady to end the inning. In the third, Cal had two runners on with two outs, but again Fredrickson was able to strikeout the final batter to get out of trouble. Fredrickson struck out the side in the first and got at least two strikeouts in five innings, and ended five innings with strikeouts.
Cal finally pushed through a run in the top of the ninth. Sophomore catcher Dylan Tonneson doubled to start the frame and moved up a bag when freshman left fielder Mark Canha singled to right. Tonneson then scored on freshman shortstop BJ Quinn's sacrifice fly.
Bialosky went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored. Lipkin was also 2-for-4 with a run scored. Bernatz, Morgan, Ethel, and senior shortstop Tavo Hall each singled.
Petrini took the loss for Cal, allowing five runs (four earned) off four hits and one walk in 0.1 inning of work. Four Bears relievers combined to shut out the Dons over the next eight innings. Tonneson had two hits for the Bears.
In the high school game played earlier in the day, Sacred Heart Cathedral defeated St. Ignatius 8-5. USF returns to action on Friday, hosting West Coast Conference rival Loyola Marymount for three at Benedetti Diamond. Friday's first pitch is set for 3:00 PM.
