University of San Francisco Athletics

Box Score

Follow the Diamond Dons: FACEBOOK | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM

SAN JOSE, Calif.—The Dons made a major shift in the lineup and the change worked immediately as they scored five times in the first three innings to snap a three-game losing streak and beat San Jose State 7-2 on Tuesday night.
 
San Francisco (9-9) had struggled to find an offensive rhythm for two weeks and Head Coach Nino Giarratano made major changes. Among those changes were Bradley Zimmer moving to the leadoff spot, Derek Atkinson to the three hole and Michael Kathan getting his first start of the season.
 
"We had to do something different to score runs and obviously we got more hits," Giarratano said. "It helps when Derek gets three hits. It helps when Zack gets three hits. We score runs. We had more guys on base today. We had better at bats throughout the game. I think that obviously was the difference."
 
Turner had his first three-hit game of the season as he went 3-for-5 with two runs, two RBI and a stolen base. Atkinson went 3-for-4 with an RBI.
 
"I think they need some confidence right now," Giarratano said. "We played those three games, not what they wanted to do, pressure from the outside of everybody wanting them to do well and expecting them to do well. Tonight was a good night to get some confidence rolling in to Thursday."
 
The Dons had lost three straight games to open West Coast Conference play against Gonzaga over the weekend and will be back in conference action on Thursday against BYU.
 
San Francisco went with a brand new lineup after struggling offensively against Gonzaga and it paid immediate dividends.
 
With runners on the corners and one out in the first inning, Zack Turner hit a grounder to third and was able to beat the throw to break up the double play, allowing Nico Giarratano to score and put the Dons up 1-0. After Turner stole second, Brendan Hendriks singled just in front of the rightfielder and it brought Turner home.
 
Michael Eaton followed that up with a single of his own to drive home Hendriks and the Dons took a 3-0 first inning lead.
 
The Dons offense got busy again in the third. USF loaded the bases with no outs and it brought Michael Eaton to the plate, who drew a walk to put the Dons up three. Justin McCullough came up next and hit a sacrifice fly to right to drive in Turner and gave San Francisco a 5-1 lead.
 
San Jose State threatened in the seventh.
 
The Spartans got two runners on with one out on a Kyle Gallegos single and a walk to Brett Bautista. Mack Meyer got Sheldon Daquidag to hit into a fielder's choice, giving San Jose State runners at the corners with one out.
 
Ben Graff came in to face the lefty Matt Lopez and got him swinging on three pitches.
 
The Dons used eight pitchers on the night and they combined to throw seven shutout innings while striking out eight. Matt Narahara (1-2) picked up his first Division I win.
 
The Dons picked up two more in the ninth on a sacrifice fly by Atkinson and a single by Turner to give the Dons a 7-2 lead.
 
"Today was a day where we could have scored 14 had we been sharp offensively," Giarratano said. "You want to keep executing a little bit better each day."