April 13, 2002

Box Score

(San Francisco) - Sophomore shortstop Armand Gaerlan continued his powers surge, launching a pair of homeruns to deep left field to lift San Francisco to a 9-2 West Coast Conference victory Saturday at Benedetti Diamond. USF (9-30, 2-14 WCC) got an outstanding complete game five-hitter from junior right-handed starter Bryan Williams (2-5).

Gonzaga (18-17, 7-7 WCC) touched Williams for a pair of solo homeruns, including the 23rd of the season for senior slugger Nate Gold, but the junior transfer from the College of San Mateo settled down and threw six straight shutout innings to stymie the Bulldogs from there.

San Francisco's resurgent offense erupted for three runs in the opening frame off sophomore southpaw Errol Simonitsch (2-3), who suffered the loss, allowing eight runs (two earned) off 10 hits. Simonitsch struck out four, but was victimized by poor defense and a surging USF offense.

Gaerlan began his big day at the plate with a one-out single followed by another single from sophomore outfielder Joe Jacobitz. Both scored on senior second baseman Luke Gradishar's double up the middle followed by a throwing error by the Gonzaga center fielder. Gradishar scored on a sacrifice fly from senior catcher Steve Booth to make the score 3-0 heading into the second.

Gonzaga answered back in the top of the frame with a one out solo homerun to left from Zurmely, who left the yard for the third time in two games against the Dons to close the score to 3-1. The Bulldogs would strike again in the third frame when Gold blasted a solo shot to deep right center, landing on Masonic Avenue. For Gold it was his team and WCC leading 23rd long ball of the season.

Fortunately for the Dons, it was all the offense the Bulldogs would muster as Williams allowed just two hits in the rest of the contest. Williams complete game gem was the first for USF this season and he struck out six and issued four walks.

USF pushed across another run in the fifth on a one-out solo shot to left by Gaerlan. The Dons broke the contest open with a four-run sixth when freshman infielder Royce Fukuroku reached on an error, followed by a single from junior designated hitter Alfonso Valdez and an all-hands safe fielders choice to load the bases from freshman outfielder Jimmy Milkovich. Pinch-hitter Nick Cirbo lofted a towering sacrifice fly to center to score Fukuroku. Freshman outfielder Dan Akenhead reached on another fielder's choice, scoring Valdez, setting the stage for Gaerlan's second homer of the contest, a two run shot to left for a 8-2 advantage after six innings.

San Francisco would score another run in the seventh on a towering homerun to left from Valdez to make the score 9-2. Gaerlan led the way at the plate for the Dons with a 3-for-5, two homerun, three RBI day, while Valdez also collected three hits, finishing 3-for-4 with a homerun, his second, and an RBI. Jacobitz finished 2-for-3 and drew a walk, while Gradishar also picked up a pair of hits against his former team, ending up 2-for-4 with an RBI.

Gold and Zurmely led the way at the plate for the Bulldogs and each collected a pair of hits.

USF hosts Gonzaga in the final game of the WCC series on Sunday at Benedetti Diamond. First pitch in the rubber match is scheduled for 1:00 PM.