Box Score
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – Kyle Zimmer scattered two hits across five scoreless innings to lead San Francisco to a 3-1 victory over Missouri Friday afternoon at sun-soaked Benedetti Diamond. The junior right-hander struck out five Tigers (2-2) and walked none to help the Dons (3-2) to their first home win of the 2012 season. In his two starts this year, Zimmer has allowed just three hits in nine innings and has yet to allow a run, or surrender a walk.
"It was a great team win in front of our home fans," Zimmer said. "Missouri is a good team, but I try not to think about who we face. I just tried to keep it simple today, separate between my pitches, and execute."
A tight contest saw the Dons hold a 1-0 lead into the top of the eighth until Brannon Champagne's RBI ground out tied the game. Junior reliever Elliot Waterman preserved the 1-1 tie, causing Conner Mach to fly out to left.
The game wouldn't stay tied for long, as the Dons struck back with two runs in the bottom of the eighth. Junior Justin Maffei, in his first game batting leadoff, started the San Francisco rally with an infield single. Two batters later, Adam Clear delivered an RBI base hit to right field to plate Maffei and give the Dons a 2-1 lead. Catcher Mason Morioka followed that with a two-bagger down the right field line to put runners on second and third. Matt Chavez then stepped to the plate, a hard luck 2-for-13 entering the at-bat, but he didn't look the part Friday afternoon. The senior drove a 1-1 pitch to right to score Clear from third to give the Dons a 3-1 lead. Chavez's run-scoring hit was his first RBI on the year.
Waterman induced a 4-6-3 twin killing then struck out Missouri's leading hitter, Dane Opel, to seal the Dons victory.
Waterman has been stellar in relief for San Francisco thus far. The 6-6, 230 pound lefty now sports a 1.59 ERA and has an unblemished 7-to-0 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
Zimmer received help from his defense in the early going, as middle infielders Jason Mahood and Aritz Garcia both made diving catches to aid the junior ace. Mahood ranged into shallow right to make an off balanced grab, while Garcia sprinted towards the left field line to make a running snare in foul territory.
"I just try to take it week by week and improve every time I'm out there," Zimmer said. "My job is to do whatever I can to get the team a win."
Six of nine Dons starters recorded at least one hit on the afternoon, including three two-hit performances from Maffei, Tom Barry, and Bradley Zimmer.
Maffei's 2-for-4 performance with a run scored and an RBI places the junior at the top of the Don's batting average list with a clean .412 mark. The College of San Mateo transfer also leads the team in doubles (4), slugging (.647), total bases (11), and stolen bases (2-2).
The Diamond Dons play game two of the three-game set against Missouri tomorrow at 1:00 p.m. Abe Bobb (1-0, 1.29 ERA) gets the nod for USF against Mizzou lefty Rob Zastryzny (0-0, 8.10 ERA). For live stats, video, and audio of the game, go to: http://client.stretchinternet.com/client/usf.portal#.
