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2015 SCHEDULE | 2015 ROSTER | 2014 FINAL STATISTICS
 
SAN FRANCISCO—The pitching staff was a point of emphasis for the Dons in the offseason after a subpar year on the mound but bring back a strong mix of experience and youth that should add some much needed depth to the 2015 squad.
 
"Last year, we didn't pitch well. We had leads early in conference play and we didn't pitch very well with leads. We didn't pitch well in the middle of the game," USF head coach Nino Giarratano said. "That's a spot where we have to get better."
 
The Dons finished last season with a 25-29 record and 11-16 in conference, which followed a season in which they reached the NCAA Regional for the second time in three years. USF returns a slew of veterans as well as 17 newcomers to the Hilltop as they look to return to the postseason.
 
USF is looking to rebound after a disappointing 2014 and they are prepping themselves with a grueling preseason schedule, which includes 12 straight on the road to begin the season. They will play 2014 College World Series participant Texas Tech, New Mexico, Oregon, and Stanford as part of the nonconference schedule.
 
The season begins on Feb. 13 at Texas Tech.
 
JAN. 27: INFIELDERS | JAN. 30: CATCHERS/DESIGNATED HITTERS
FEB. 4: PITCHERS | FEB. 6: OUTFIELDERS
 
PITCHERS
The Dons struggled as a staff last season but there is optimism about this year's group as they bring in a slew of talented arms to help get the team back into the West Coast Conference race.
 
"I think we have guys who will be able to throw more strikes and I think health is going to dictate everything and everybody is pretty much healthy right now," USF pitching coach Seth Etherton said. "I love the talent we have. I love the demeanor we have. I love how these guys are getting after it every day.
 
"They know exactly what they need to do."
 
Part of the improvement the team hopes to see is in the starting rotation. Six pitchers are vying for spots in the rotation and this includes three-year starter Christian Cecilio.
 
The senior, who is slotted to be the team's No. 1 starter, has been in the rotation since his freshman season and has shown flashes of being one of the better pitchers in the league. After Mar. 30 of last season, Cecilio had five starts where he went at least 7.2 innings, which included a complete game at Pepperdine.
 
"The only thing that is going to beat Christian is Christian and he knows that," Etherton said. "He's got savvy on the mound, he has the IQ to pitch, he knows exactly what his strengths are, he understands the philosophy of pitching a lot more."
 
Sophomore Grant Goodman came in as one of the more live arms on the club and had some incredible outings in his first season on the Hilltop. Goodman finished the season with a 4.55 ERA but went eight shutout innings against Tulane during the Cal Baseball Classic in March and later in the year went eight innings against California while allowing one run.
 
He pitched well in the fall and Etherton believes the right hander is starting to come into his own.
 
"He had an outstanding fall," Etherton said. "He threw primarily two pitches, a fastball and changeup. He has dedicated himself to learning the changeup and trusting it and it is a plus pitch for him.
 
"Bringing in his curveball, which was his plus pitch last year, I don't know what is going to be that secondary pitch that is going to wipe guys out. He has so many weapons and such a deceiving fastball."
 
Sheldon Lee was the best pitcher on the staff down the stretch and, once entering the rotation, had 27 consecutive innings without allowing an earned run. The senior could end up filling roles in the rotation or in the bullpen.
 
"With the versatility he has, he's going to do great in any role," Etherton said of Lee. "He had a good fall and I'm excited for Sheldon because I think he has a great future in professional baseball."
 
The most exciting arm might be freshman Jeider Rincon. The Columbian native could end up in the rotation quickly, comes in with a fastball that could touch 90 mph, and has a four-pitch mix. In his last year at Overfelt High School (San Jose, Calif.), he struck out 95 in 70.1 innings.
 
"He is a great kid, brings a lot of energy, a lot of humor and sarcasm to the guys and he's well-received," Etherton said. "In terms of talent, I don't know if there is a more talented guy on the staff. He had a good fall and some of his downfalls were lack of experience."
 
Newcomers Louis Raymond and Anthony Shew will also compete for spots in the rotation.
 
Giarratano said, "If we can get the right starts out of Christian, the right starts out of Goodman, and one of those other guys emerge then I think we're going to have an opportunity to not only win on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays but I think our Tuesday pitching will be a lot better and that is what gets you into a [NCAA Regional] and gets you an opportunity."
 
The bullpen should see an upgrade through newcomers and experience and it starts with senior Logan West. He led the team with a 1.52 ERA in 23.2 innings and should take over the closers role left by Houston Hibberd, who set a team record with 11 saves.
 
"He's gained velocity, he's gained better stuff, and he's a bulldog," Etherton said. "He'll come in and wants the ball. He wants to shut things down."
 
Helping to bridge the gap from the rotation to the closer's spot will be Anthony Buonopane and Frank Waliczek. Buonopane, the transfer from Furman, looks to be a potential set-up man or right-handed specialist with a good changeup and curveball. The lefty Waliczek has good deception and should be a solid one-to-two inning arm.
 
Matt Narahara provides another experienced lefty arm out of the bullpen and spent the summer and fall getting into better shape for the 2015 campaign.
 
Brock Larson and Mack Meyer return for their sophomore seasons and both bring good sliders and provide one-inning bursts out of the bullpen.
 
"I'm excited for them to get some opportunities to build off of last year," Etherton said.
 
Redshirt freshman Sam Granoff will also get some time out of the bullpen for the Dons. Washington transfer Travis Ulvestad also comes in with a power arm, throwing between 90-92 mph.