University of San Francisco Athletics

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Game No. 43
San Francisco Dons (20-22, 8-13 WCC) at California Golden Bears
Date: Apr. 29, 6:05 p.m.
Location: Evans Diamond (Berkeley, Calif.)
Audio Broadcast: USFDons.com/LIVE (Play-by-play: Pat Olson)
 
Game Nos. 44-46
San Francisco Dons vs. Santa Clara Broncos
Dates: May 2, 3 p.m.; May 3, 1 p.m.; May 4, 1 p.m.
Location: Benedetti Diamond
Video/Audio Broadcast: USFDons.com/LIVE (Play-by-play: Max Harris (Fri.), Pat Olson (Sat.-Sun.))

2014 SCHEDULE
2014 ROSTER
 
SAN FRANCISCO—The Dons finally return to the Bay Area this week after an eight-game road trip and will take on California in midweek action and host rival Santa Clara this weekend.
 
San Francisco (20-22, 8-13 WCC) has found some consistency from the rotation in recent weeks and it has led to some incredible performances from the Dons rotation.
 
Pitching probables:
Tuesday: Grant Goodman (2-3, 4.73 ERA)
Friday: Abe Bobb (3-3, 5.12)
Saturday: Christian Cecilio (4-6, 3.72)
Sunday: Sheldon Lee (4-1, 2.77)
 
STARTING PITCHING CONTINUES STELLAR STRETCH
Since Apr. 15, the Dons starting pitching has been everything the team could ask for and more. Abe Bobb threw a complete game for the 3-2 over Pepperdine two weeks ago and then allowed one earned run in 6.1 innings against Portland on Friday. Christian Cecilio was not to be outdone. He threw a complete game against Pepperdine and allowed four runs in the contest and followed it up by pitching into the ninth against Portland, allowing three runs. Sheldon Lee has been even more impressive. He has made three starts since Apr. 15 and is 2-0 and has not been scored upon in 18 innings, which includes his first career complete game shutout on Sunday against Portland.
 
MR. CLUTCH
Derek Atkinson has been one of the Dons' more consistent hitters all season and it has shown in his numbers. He leads the team with 37 RBI on the season and has come through in the biggest of moments. He hit a three-run double in the ninth inning at Nevada on Tuesday to help give the Dons the 4-1 victory. He then hit a RBI double in the eighth in the series opener at Portland, which tied the contest at two. With runners on base, he is hitting .418 and with runners in scoring position is hitting .410.
 
ZIMMER NAMED TO GOLDEN SPIKES LIST
Bradley Zimmer has proven many predictions right with his play so far this season and can add another accomplishment to his resume as he was named to USA Baseball's Golden Spikes Award Midseason Watch List. He was one of 50 players recognized on the list. Most recently, he recorded a 19-game hitting streak, which lasted from Mar. 9 to Apr. 8. He has had multiple hits in 12 of the 19 games and carried a .453 batting average with a .534 on-base percentage.
 
RETURNING HOME
The Dons will play their first home game in nearly three weeks when they host Santa Clara on Friday afternoon. USF will play the final game of an eight-game road trip on Tuesday at California and are 3-4 through the first seven games.
 
SENIOR DAY APPROACHING
The Dons will host their last series on the season on May 16-18 against UC Santa Barbara and it will also be the final home weekend for the Dons' six seniors. Abe Bobb, Ben Graff, Zack Turner, Jesse DeLong, Houston Hibberd and Michael Kathan will be part of the final weekend for USF as they play Senior Day on May 18.
 
PRESEASON ALL-AMERICAN
Bradley Zimmer was named to three All-America first teams in the preseason, including the Louisville Slugger and Baseball America teams. The junior hit .320 with seven home runs and 37 RBI last season and went onto play for the USA National Collegiate Team and Cotuit Keetleers of the Cape Cod League over the summer.
 
GIARRATANO LEGACY
Head coach Nino Giarratano enters his 16th season at the helm of the USF baseball team and is the winningest coach in the program's history with 452. He is also the third winningest coach in WCC history, behind John Cunningham (USD, 524) and current San Diego coach Rich Hill (657). With the win over Kansas State on Feb. 18, Giarratano passed Santa Clara's John Oldman for third on that list (433).