May 11, 2002

Box Score

(San Francisco) - USF loaded the bases with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, but Loyola Marymount left-handed reliever Josh Mueke recorded a strikeout to end the Dons late rally and seized a 7-5 West Coast Conference baseball win Saturday at Benedetti Diamond. San Francisco (17-38, 8-21 WCC) got an outstanding day at the plate from sophomore shortstop Armand Gaerlan, who went 4-for-5 with a double and a pair of RBI, but could not solve Mueke (3-5), who allowed just one run off five hits in 3.0 innings and struck out five to get the win for LMU (20-31, 13-13 WCC).

Loyola Marymount would score a run in the top of the third, but the Dons would answer in the bottom of the frame courtesy of a double from Gaerlan and a fielding error, allowing freshman infielder Khamis Zananiri to score from third base. The Lions added a run in the fifth for a 2-1 lead but it would not last as USF scored two runs off an RBI from freshman infielder Cy Donald followed by an RBI single from Gaerlan.

San Francisco ran into trouble in the seventh inning as the Lions scored three runs to take a 7-4 lead. Sophomore right-handed reliever Kevin Rose (1-5) suffered the loss for the Dons, allowing three runs off four hits and struck out three.

Sophomore Joe Jacobitz went 2-for-5, while sophomore pinch-hitter Ryan Sittauer clubbed his fourth homerun of the season in the bottom of the sixth inning to lead the Dons at the plate. Freshman infielder Sean Smith went 3-for-3 with a pair of RBI, while freshman outfielder Carl Stoeber went 3-for-4 and knocked in two runs to lead the way offensively for the Lions.

USF hosts LMU in the 2002 season finale on Sunday. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 PM at Benedetti Diamond, while a special ceremony honoring the USF seniors will begin at 12:40 PM.