May 3, 2003

Box Score

USF posted five-run innings in the second and sixth innings and cruised to a 13-6 victory against Portland in game one of a West Coast Conference double-header Saturday at Benedetti Diamond. The Dons (20-27, 13-12 WCC) got an excellent start from senior right-hander Kevin Annis and a grand slam homerun from freshman outfielder Jonnie Knoble to dispatch the Pilots (9-33-1, 5-16-1 WCC).

Annis (5-3) established a new career-high with nine strikeouts in 6.0 innings of work, allowing four runs off eight hits. Knoble powered his second homerun of the season and the first grand slam of his career off freshman right-hander Stephen Ball (2-4) in USF's five-run second. Ball suffered the loss for the Pilots, allowing 13 runs (nine earned) in 5.1 innings of work.

Junior infielder Armand Gaerlan clubbed his team-leading eighth homerun of the season, a two-run shot to left center in the fourth to give San Francisco a 8-3 lead. Eight of the nine regulars in the USF lineup collected a base hit, although junior catcher Ryan Hanson and sophomore infielder Royce Fukuroku were the only Dons with two-hit days.

USF pitching enjoyed a solid performance, striking out 13. Junior left-hander Derek Tate pitched an inning with a pair of K's in the seventh, while sophomore right-handed reliever T.J. Franco struck out two in 2.0 innings of work.

Freshman infielder Justin Pierce homered twice for the Pilots, finishing 2-for-4 with three RBI on his third and fourth long balls of the season.