Dons Host No. 30 Gonzaga In Battle At Benedetti - San Francisco plays Gonzaga for first time since winning 2011 WCC Title in Spokane
THIS WEEK: San Francisco is primed to host WCC rival No. 30 Gonzaga for the first time since winning the 2011 WCC Title on the Bulldog's turf last season. The three-game series begins on Friday at Benedetti Diamond at 3:00 p.m. and pits preseason All-American Kyle Zimmer (3-3, 2.79) against LHP Tyler Olson (4-0, 2.11). Game two of the series is on Saturday at 1:00 p.m., with the Sunday series finale starting at 12:00 p.m. Gonzaga is riding high, entering Friday with a six-game winning streak, including its three-game sweep over Santa Clara this past weekend.
WEEK THAT WAS: The Dons went 2-3 last week from April 9-15, taking two of three games against WCC rival Loyola Marymount. After dropping two games to No. 16 Oregon in Eugene, the Dons got back on track in Los Angeles, winning games one and three of the three-game series against the Lions. The Dons scored 23 runs in the series against LMU, including a thrilling 8-5 extra-inning victory in the series finale, capped by Ted LeMasters' play at the plate and go-ahead sac fly in the 10th inning.
LOOKING AHEAD: After playing Gonzaga, USF stays home to host UC Davis on Tuesday, April 24, before hosting WCC newcomer, BYU for a three-game set starting on Thursday, April 26, at 3:00 p.m.
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SCOUTING THE BULLDOGS: Gonzaga is riding a six-game winning streak entering the three-game series against San Francisco, including a three-game sweep over WCC opponent Santa Clara over the weekend. In that series, the Bulldogs won 4-2, 8-3, and 4-1. Gonzaga's starters (Olson, Gonzalez, and Hunter) combined for a 2-0 record with eight strikeouts, eight walks, and an ERA of 2.11 across 21.1 innings pitched. In the Sunday finale, Hunter tossed a complete game, allowing just one earned run.
LAST TIME VS. GONZAGA: USF took two-of-three games from Gonzaga in the series that decided the eventual 2011 WCC Champion. USF took game one, 4-2, and then lost game two by a score of 7-5, setting up the deciding Sunday finale. San Francisco would win the final game of the 2011 regular season and the WCC Title by a score of 4-2.
LAST THREE SEASONS: Gonzaga owns a 6-4 advantage over the last three seasons. Prior to the Dons taking two-of-three last season, the Bulldogs took the 2010 series two games to one, and the 2009 four-game series three games to one.
CAPTAIN AMERICA: Junior pitcher Kyle Zimmer was named a second team All-American in Baseball America's college preseason poll. The right-hander became the first Don to be named a preseason All-American since Tagg Bozied in 2000. Zimmer had a terrific March, tossing back-to-back compete game shutouts against Hawaii and UCSB. Against the Rainbows, Zimmer stuck out 11 and allowed only three hits en route to his first win of the 2012 season. On March 24, Zimmer blanked the Gauchos, striking out nine and walking only one to propel the Dons to a 2-0 victory. Zimmer owns a 3-3 record despite his 2.79 ERA and remarkable 65-to-10 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Zimmer's 65 strikeouts, three complete games, and two shutouts rank first in the entire West Coast Conference. Zimmer's .221 batting average against is good for eighth in the WCC.
JUSTIN'S TIME: College of San Mateo transfer Justin Maffei has been the Dons hottest hitter in 2012. The center fielder ranks first on the team in hits (46), runs (31), doubles (7), home runs (3), total bases (62), slugging pct. (.459), on-base pct. (.477), hit by pitch (11), and steals (16). Maffei also ranks first in the WCC in stolen bases having swiped 16 in 20 chances. In addition, Maffei ranks 2nd in on-base percentage (.479), 5th in bases on balls (23), and 10th in total bases (62), and SLG(.470).
SEEING CLEARLY: Adam Clear is currently riding a seven-game hitting streak entering Friday's game. Clear is 10-for-28 (.357) since April 7th against Portland. Earlier in the season, Clear's 10-game hitting streak was snapped after an 0-for-3 day on March 15 in the series opener against Hawaii. During the hitting streak, Clear was 18-for-36 (.500), including five multi-hit games, including three doubles, two RBIs, and five bases on balls. Since February 28 against California, Clear has improved his batting average .154 points to an impressive .307.
