University of San Francisco Athletics

Box Score

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SACRAMENTO, Calif.—The Dons had to wait an extra day and waited no time in taking control of the series opener against Sacramento State early and won 9-1 on Saturday afternoon.
 
The series will resume on Sunday as the Dons (4-5) host Sacramento State at Benedetti Diamond for a double header set to begin at 11 a.m.
 
"It was a matter of time before we got on time and we started doing our thing," San Francisco head coach Nino Giarratano said. "You look through the lineup, everybody in that lineup was productive for us today offensively. That's what it takes sometimes is everyone producing."
 
"We were able to score in the first three innings and any time you can do that, you are going to have success."
 
The Dons, who were originally set to begin the series on Friday but had it delayed due to rain, jumped out to an early 5-0 lead and put the game away in the sixth.
 
With runners on second and third and one out, Nico Giarratano grounded out to drive in Ryan Matranga to give USF a 6-0 lead. The next better, Bradley Zimmer, hit a two-run home run to left center that banked off the wall of the parking structure and put the Dons up 8-0.
 
Zimmer had everything on display against Sacramento State. He went 3-for-5 with a home run, two RBI and two stolen bases.
 
The Dons 3-4-5-6 hitters combined for 10 hits and six RBI.
 
"You look at what Bradley did scoring four runs with three hits, Turner with two hits," Giarratano said. "We put together eight hit in the 3-4-5. If you can do that and Bob chips in with his home run, we've get a chance to score runs."
 
The Dons struck in the first. After reaching on a fielder's choice, Zimmer stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch, setting up the RBI chance for Zack Turner. With a 2-2 count, the Dons cleanup hitter laced a double into the right centerfield gap to put San Francisco up 1-0.
 
Bob Cruikshank led off the second with a booming home run that hit off the third level of the parking structure in leftfield to put USF up 2-0. Dons tacked on another in the second when Michael Eaton drove in Brendan Hendriks with a single to go up by three.
 

Sacramento State threatened in the second and third innings but Abe Bobb was able to wiggle his way out of danger to keep the Hornets scoreless.
 
Sacramento State had another opportunity to score in the fourth. But with two on and two outs, Nathan Lukes hit a tailing liner into right centerfield and Derek Atkinson made a diving catch to end the inning and prevent the runs from scoring.
 
Bobb had his longest outing of the season by throwing eight innings, allowing one run on eight hits with five strikeouts.
 
Atkinson picked up two more RBI on the day, upping to his team-leading total to nine.
 
Christian Cecilio is the probable starter for the 11 a.m. game and Matt Narahara is the probable for the second game.