Box Score
RENO, Nevada – Freshman
Thomas Cox earned the win in his first USF start, and the University of San Francisco Diamond Dons swept the season series from the Nevada Wolf Pack with a - win Tuesday afternoon at Peccole Park. USF improved its record to 17-15, while Nevada fell to 17-15.
Cox (1-0) retired 18 of the first 19 batters he faced, pitching into the seventh inning before being pulled from the game after allowing a leadoff single. The lefthander went 6.0 innings, allowing just two hits and striking out four.
The Dons got on the board in the top of the third when
Josh Miller scored on a
Justin Maffei sacrifice fly to give USF a 1-0 lead.
Ryan Matranga, who reached on a fielder's choice attempting to sacrifice Miller to third, came around to score on a
Jason Mahood double for the second run of the inning.
Bob Cruikshank hit his team-leading 13
th double to score Zachary Turner in the sixth, extending the Dons lead to three. Following a Nevada run in the seventh, Turner hit a solo home run to lead off the eighth to give USF a 4-1 lead. The long ball was Turner's second home run in three games, and third of the season.
Logan West,
Andrew Pulido,
Ben Graff and
Adam Cimber held the Wolf Pack scorless over the final three innings. Cimber pitched a perfect ninth for his fifth save of the season.
“Thomas was great for us today, going into the seventh with a one-hitter,” said USF Head Coach
Nino Giarratano. “He executed well and gave us a great chance to win. Zach continues to swing a hot bat right now. We had a good day at the plate today and could have scored more runs with better execution. Whenever we pitch and play defense, good things can happen.”
The Dons head back to the Bay Area to take on Santa Clara this weekend at Stephen Schott Stadium. First pitch Friday night is scheduled for 6 p.m.
Inside the Numbers
Thomas Cox has allowed two earned runs in 16.1 innings, for an ERA of 1.10.
Line of the Game
Zachary Turner – 3-for-5, 2 runs, home run, RBI
