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USF Baseball Downs Sacramento State 12-7
April 14, 2009
(Sacramento, CA) - San Francisco baseball erupted for 19 hits and 12 runs as it earned the 12-7 non-conference win over Sacramento State (20-14) on Tuesday afternoon at Hornet Field. The 19 hits are the second most for the Dons (17-20) this season.
Senior outfielder Drew Johnson had a career high five hits in the contest with a double, two RBI, three runs scored, and two stolen bases. He and every Dons starter had at least one hit on the day. Junior shortstop Derek Poppert went 3-for-5 with a double, two RBI, and a run scored. Senior outfielder Zach Kim had two hits and three RBI, while freshman designated hitter Nik Balog and junior second baseman Robert Abel each had two hits and drove in a run. Sophomore first baseman Stephen Yarrow singled and drove in two. Junior catcher Ryan Lipkin and senior third baseman Dane Braunecker each had a hit and an RBI. Sophomore Chris Escobar earned his first hit of the season, and junior center fielder Bobby Ethel singled in the contest.
USF threatened to score in both the first and second innings, but didn't cross the plate until the third. Poppert doubled to start off the inning, and moved to third on a balk. He scored on Lipkin's ground out to second. Johnson reached base on a bunt and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Balog singled, moving Johnson to third, before Yarrow hit him home with a fielder's choice. After Yarrow advanced to second on a failed pick off attempt, Braunecker batted him home with a single to center field.
In the fifth, the Dons put up four more runs. Johnson singled through the right side, stole second, and scored on Balog's single to center. An out later, with runners on the corners, Kim singled to right, plating one. Ethel walked to load the bases and Poppert singled to right, driving in two.
USF kept piling on the runs, scoring five more in the sixth. Johnson yet again singled and stole second, then advanced to third on a wild pitch. Sophomore Connor Bernatz walked to put runners on the corners for Yarrow, who singled to left, plating Johnson. Braunecker reached on an error by Sacramento State's shortstop Derrick Chung, which loaded the bases. Abel was hit by a pitch to score Bernatz before Kim singled to right, scoring two more. Pinch runner George Lujan scored the Dons final run as junior Chris Dittmann hit into a double play.
USF would need all 12 runs as the Hornets rallied late. They pushed across a run in the seventh, and then scored six more in the following frame.
Freshman right-hander Cameron Love (3-1) earned the win, tossing 3.0 scoreless innings, only giving up one hit and striking out one. Seven more Dons hurlers threw in the contest. Freshman righty Matt Chavez closed out the game for the Dons, tossing a scoreless ninth and striking out a batter.
Trevor Paine (0-1) took the loss for the Hornets, tossing one inning of relief, giving up three runs (two earned) off four hits. Starter Alex Taku started, not allowing a run off three hits, with two walks and three strikeouts.
USF returns to Benedetti Diamond on Friday as they host Santa Clara for a three-game West Coast Conference set. First pitch is set for 3:00 PM.
