May 4, 2002

Box Score

(Portland, OR) - San Francisco's offense erupted for three-runs in the first and added a pair in the third and senior left-hander Jeremy Kinney took care of the rest, pitching a complete game victory as the Dons defeated Portland 5-3 in West Coast Conference baseball action Saturday at Pilot Stadium. With the win, USF (16-36, 7-19 WCC) win their sixth game in seven outings and capture their second straight league series win after sweeping Saint Mary's last week. Portland (21-23, 13-11 WCC) remains in the hunt for a divisional title with two weeks to play as the Dons won their first WCC road series since taking two of three against the Pilots in the 2000 campaign.

Kinney (4-4) was masterful for the Dons pitching his first complete game of his career and won his third straight game after allowing three runs (one earned) off nine hits while striking out eight Pilots, two in the ninth inning with a runner at second base. Kinney did not allow a walk in the contest.

USF's offense did its job early erupting for a three-run third via three consecutive RBI singles by senior catcher Steve Booth, freshman outfielder Royce Fukuroku and Alfonso Valdez. Booth tattooed his 19th homerun of the season to the parking lot in left field to lead things off in the top of the third and then freshman outfielder Jimmy Milkovich added an RBI doub le scoring Fukuroku, who reached on an error.

From there, USF's offense stalled and Portland relief pitching stiffened, posting six straight zeroes as the Dons managed only three hits the rest of the way. Fortunately for the Dons, Kinney was up to the challenge as he would allow a single run to score in the bottom of the third. Pilot starter Matt Hollod (5-5) earned the loss for the Pilots after going 2.2, allowing five runs (three earned) off six hits. He struck out two but helped his own cause with a 1-for-3 day at the plate, drilling an RBI single in the Pilots' two-run sixth.

Booth finished his day 2-for-5 with a homerun and a pair of RBI, while Valdez alos finished with a pair of base hits and an RBI for the Dons.

USF returns to action when they host the Lions of Loyola Marymount in a three-game WCC set starting Friday at Benedettit Diamond. Prior to game four, USF and LMU will complete game three of the series, which the Dons lead 25-21 heading into the bottom of the 10th. First pitch in the suspended game is at 1:00 PM, game four is scheduled for a 3:00 PM start.