Box Score Follow the Diamond Dons: FACEBOOK | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM SAN FRANCISCO—The Dons traded the lead four times in the first few innings but a five-run seventh by Pacific put them on top for good as San Francisco fell 11-6 in West Coast Conference action on Friday afternoon.
The Dons (15-17, 5-8 WCC) will return to action on Saturday with
Christian Cecilio taking the mound against Pacific.
"We went through periods of time where we did execute very well. We went through a stretch there where our execution fell off and they were ready and they took advantage," San Francisco associate head coach
Troy Nakamura said. "You've got to give credit to them for taking advantage of non-execution by us."
The Dons and Tigers swapped the lead four times in the first six innings and that is when Pacific took a sizable advantage.
With one out and the bases loaded,
Ben Graff walked Jimmy Gosano to force in a run and gave Pacific a 7-6 lead. After an infield fly, Taylor Murphy singled to center to drive home two more to give them a three-run lead. The next batter, Brett Sullivan, followed with another two-RBI single as Pacific put up five runs in the seventh to take an 11-6 lead.
San Francisco overcame two different deficits in the early innings.
The Dons had scored runs in the third and fourth to take a 2-1 lead but Pacific quickly responded in the fifth. After a leadoff walk, Gio Brusa hit a bullet over the rightfield wall for a two-run home run and gave the Tigers a 3-2 lead.
San Francisco responded with a big inning of its own.
Nico Giarratano led off the inning with his first career home run to tie the game at three. Then, with two outs, Brednan Hendriks hit towering home run to right and gave the Dons a 4-3 lead.
The Dons got back-to-back singles by
Bob Cruikshank and
Ryan Matranga and a walk to
Matt Sinatro to load the bases.
Michael Eaton came up and ripped a double down the leftfield line to bring in two and put USF up three.
Eaton, who went 2-for-4 with a career-high four RBI, was one of five Dons to record two hits along with
Zack Turner,
Derek Atkinson,
Bob Cruikshank and Giarratano.
"The hitters did a good job of staying on their approach for the most part," Nakamura said. "We gave away some at bats we shouldn't have but when you're playing from behind for the most part, you're going to have to swing your way back in the game. You're approach offensively changes a little bit."
Pacific had another answer in the sixth when they got a three-run home run from Taylor Murphy to tie the game at six.
Bradley Zimmer, who came into the game with a 19-game hitting streak, went 0-for-5 with an intentional walk, marking the first time he was gone hitless since Mar. 7.
It was the first meeting between the two teams as WCC members since 1971.
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