Game Notes
SAN FRANCISCO – After a week in which they won four of five games, including the series at West Coast Conference pre-season favorite San Diego, the San Francisco Diamond Dons return home to host their final home conference series of the season with Pepperdine. The Dons (26-19, 11-7 WCC) sit alone in second place in the conference, just ahead of Pepperdine (23-17, 9-6 WCC). Eight teams remain alive for four playoff spots with three weeks remaining in the season.
USF beat San Jose State in dramatic fashion Tuesday, hitting three home runs in the bottom of the ninth of a 4-2 win at Benedetti Diamond.
Bob Mott,
Justin Maffei and Zachary Turner went yard to give USF its most thrilling win of the season.
DONS BRIEFS
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USF has won two West Coast Conference titles, in 2006 and 2011.
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Since 2006, the Dons have a 275-226 (.549) record.
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The Dons have won 10 of their last 14, 11 of 16 WCC games and 13 of 18.
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The Dons defeated San Jose State earlier this season, 2-1.
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San Diego State beat USF, 6-1, in their 2012 matchup.
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Pepperdine took two of three from the Dons last season in Malibu.
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Since 1985, Pepperdine leads the all-time series with USF, 90-28.
SLEDGEHAMMER - Zachary Turner brings a 16-game hit streak into the weekend series. The junior is tied for the WCC lead in RBIs (46) and is tied for third in home runs.
MIDDLE OF THE PACK - USF ranks seventh in the West Coast Conference with a .252 batting average. The Dons are second in doubles (80), and third in home runs (19) and total bases (520). The Dons pitching staff ranks third in the conference in ERA (3.45), batting average against (.252), fourth in runs allowed (179), second in innings pitched (393.2) and first in walks allowed (111).
MOUND PRESENCE - Senior
Haden Hinkle is 8-1, with a 1.48 ERA and 50 strikeouts in 60.2 innings pitched. Hinkle is second in the West Coast Conference in ERA and batting average against (.192) and is tied for first in wins. Hinkle pitched eight innings in Friday's win over San Diego, allowing three hits and two runs while striking out seven.
Probable Starters
Friday: Scott Frazier (3-5, 4.92 ERA) vs.
Haden Hinkle (8-1, 1.48 ERA)
Saturday: Corey Miller (4-4, 2.71 ERA) vs.
Alex Balog (2-3, 3.50 ERA)
Sunday: Aaron Brown (5-1, 4.12 ERA) vs.
Christian Cecilio (3-2, 4.47 ERA)
