Box Score
TUCSON, Ariz. – First inning problems were too much for the Diamond Dons to overcome, as the University of San Francisco baseball team lost for the second day in a row to the No. 11 Arizona Wildcats, 5-2, at Hi Corbett Field.
Dons starter
Alex Balog struggled early, giving up four first-inning runs to Arizona. After allowing four hits and walking a batter in the first, the junior right-hander settled down to throw six shutout innings, giving up just three hits.
USF scored single runs in the third, on a
Bob Cruikshank RBI single and the seventh, when
Justin Maffei cut the lead to two with a sacrifice fly, but were unable to score again.
Zachary Turner had a pair of singles for USF, as the junior from San Carlos, Calif. continued his hot start, improving his average to .429.
“Today was another day of falling behind and not getting the big hit with runners on base,” said USF Head Coach
Nino Giarratano. “The difference between the teams has been clutch hitting and defense. Having the crowd behind them and the name on their jersey helped them to that early lead, and when they get ahead they play great defense and continue to add to the lead. We have to stop getting behind and running uphill.”
The team will try to get a win in Tucson tomorrow as they round out the series at 11 a.m. PST. USF will send
Christian Cecilio (0-0, 11.57 ERA) against Arizona's Stephen Manthei (1-0, 5.11 ERA).
Inside the Numbers
After a four-run first inning,
Alex Balog went six innings of three-hit, shutout baseball.
Line of the Game
Harrison Bruce – 1-1, run (4-8 this season, leads the WCC in pinch hits).
