April 19, 2008

Final Stats

(Santa Clara, CA) - San Francisco took a 4-3 victory in game two of the three game West Coast Conference series against rival Santa Clara at Stephen Schott Stadium on Saturday night. The Dons (22-16, 6-5) won for the first time in their last six chances, and even their conference record with the Broncos (20-15, 6-5 WCC).

Senior left-hander Matt Baugh (5-2) threw 8.0 solid innings in the win, allowing three earned runs off eight hits, two walks, and struck out two Broncos. Senior right-hander Mitchell Bialosky earned his third save, throwing a perfect ninth with one strikeout.

Freshman center fielder Connor Bernatz led the Dons with a 3-for-5 night, including a double and an RBI. Sophomore third baseman Derek Poppert smacked two doubles and scored once. Senior shortstop Tavo Hall hit his team leading 10th double (seven of which have come in conference play) to go along with a single, three RBI and a run scored. Junior left fielder Zach Kim and senior right fielder Kyle Morgan each singled in the contest.

USF held the lead the entire way, putting up two runs in the second to start the scoring. With one out, Kim singled through the left side and moved to third on Poppert's first double of the day. Both runners scored with Hall doubled down the right field line. Santa Clara cut the lead in half, 2-1 with a run in the third off of a solo homerun by junior second baseman Brady Fuerst.

But the Dons put up two more in the fourth to extend the lead to 4-1. Poppert opened up the frame with his second double. Hall managed an infield single, and Poppert scored when Broncos senior third baseman Gabe Alcantar threw wildly to first. An out later, Hall scored when Bernatz doubled down the left field line.

Santa Clara brought it to within one, 4-3 in the seventh. A single by sophomore designated hitter Geoff Klein started the rally. An out later, Alcantar singled to right. After a strikeout, junior right fielder Matt Long walked to load the bases. Junior left fielder Evan LeBlanc then singled through the left side, plating Klein and Alcantar.

Baugh retired all three batters in the eighth before giving way for Bialosky to retire all three batters in the ninth to secure the win.

Freshman right-hander Thain Simon (7-2) took the loss for SCU, allowing four runs (three earned) off eight hits, three walks, and struck out eight Dons in six innings.

USF and Santa Clara play the rubber game tomorrow at 1:00 PM.