Box Score
SANTA CLARA, Calif. – The third time was a charm for the Diamond Dons Friday night at Stephen Schott Stadium, as USF extended its season-long winning streak to four with a 4-3 win in 12 innings at Santa Clara. The Dons had managed a pair of three-game winning streaks earlier this season, but had been unable to secure that elusive fourth win. USF moved to 18-15 (6-4 WCC) on the season, while the Broncos fell to 9-22 (0-10 WCC).
The game, marked by solid pitching performances form both teams, was tied at two going into the twelfth inning when the Dons put together a two-run rally to go ahead for good. Following two hit batsmen,
Jason Mahood's ground ball to the shortstop drew an errant throw that scored pinch-runner
Jourdan Weiks and advanced Maffei to third and Mahood to second.
Bradley Zimmer was intentionally walked before Zachary Turner drew a bases-loaded walk to score Maffei.
Adam Cimber (2-1) retired the Broncos in the bottom of the inning, allowing one run, to close out the win. The senior pitched 4.1 innings of two-hit ball for his second win of the season. Kenny Treadwell took the loss for Santa Clara.
The Dons received a strong effort from starter
Abe Bobb, who pitched into the eighth, scattering six hits and allowing one earned run.
After falling behind 2-0 in the second, the Dons scored in the fourth on a
Bradley Zimmer sacrifice fly that drove in
Justin Maffei. They tied the game in the sixth after loading the bases with one out on a Zachary Turner RBI single. After
Harrison Bruce struck out,
Bob Cruikshank drove a ball to the warning track in centerfield that Matt Ozanne caught on the run with his back to the infield to end the inning.
“It was a hard-earned win tonight,” said Dons head coach
Nino Giarratano. “We expected them to play well and they did. We made some mistakes early, and when we tied it their centerfielder made a great play on the ball to centerfield. We need to do a better job of hitting with runners in scoring position. We just hung in there.
Abe Bobb was great,
Adam Cimber was wonderful, and we had some good at bats down the stretch. We'll take the win, they're not easy to come by.”
The Dons and Broncos play game two of the series tomorrow. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.
Inside the Numbers
USF has won seven of its last eight games, six of its last West Coast Conference games and 11 of 15 overall.
Line of the Game
Abe Bobb – 7.1 innings, 6 hits, 1 earned run, 0 walks, 4 strikeouts
