Box Score
SAN FRANCISCO – The San Francisco Dons bats came alive Tuesday, accounting for 14 runs and 18 hits in a 14-3 drubbing of San Jose State in the final game of the season at Benedetti Field. USF (32-21) set season highs in hits and runs as they swept the three-game series from the Spartans (15-37).
The Dons took an early lead in the second inning on
Derek Atkinson's first home run of the season, a soaring drive over the right-centerfield fence. They added three more in the third on RBIs from Zachary Turner,
Derek Atkinson and
Bob Cruikshank.
After allowing two runs to San Jose State in the top of the fourth, the Dons put the game away with six in the bottom of the frame, highlighted by
Mitchell Rowan's bases-loaded triple.
USF continued to add to their total, putting up three more in the fifth on RBI hits by
Bradley Zimmer and
Derek Atkinson and a Turner sacrifice fly.
Andrew Pulido (1-0) earned the win for the Dons. Ross Slaney (0-1) took the loss for San Jose State.
“We played well today, we scored early and held the lead,” said USF head coach
Nino Giarratano. “We got some big hits and put it together. We needed to score a bunch of runs to get ourselves going, and pitching-wise we threw a lot of strikes. It was nice to get guys in there and give everybody a chance to sharpen up.”
With the conclusion of their regular season schedule, USF will look for Saint Mary's to beat BYU in one of their three games this weekend. A BYU loss will give the Dons the #2 seed in the WCC Championship tournament next week.
“We don't play for eight days,” said Giarratano. “We have graduation and finals, so we won't practice until Sunday. It will give them a chance to catch their legs and for their arms to come back, but we need to bounce back in our practices next week and then we're at it Thursday in the tournament. We're the only team going into this that will be able to rest up, and I'm excited about it.”
Inside the Numbers
Michael Eaton's seventh inning double was the first hit of his USF career.
Line of the Game
Dons offense -18-for-39, 14 runs, 14 RBIs, 3 doubles, triple, home run, stolen base
