MORAGA, Calif. – For the second time in two days the USF baseball team mounted a three-run comeback in the bottom of the ninth - this time to send the game into extra innings - but the rally came up just short in a 9-7 10-inning loss to Hawai'i on Sunday afternoon from Louis Guisto Field at Saint Mary's College.
 
USF (1-8) entered the bottom of the ninth trailing 7-4 after the Rainbow Warriors tacked on an insurance run in the top of the ninth that would prove to be crucial. The Dons' rally started with Matt Sinatro singling to left field and two batters later getting driven in on a Nico Giarratano double down the right field line.
 
With runners at first and third and one out, Blake Valley stepped up and laced an RBI single to right that was mishandled by Hawai'i right fielder Alan Baldwin, allowing Harrison Bruce and Nico Giarratano to score and tie the game at 7-7, forcing extra innings.
 
Hawai'i (4-5) wasted no time in responding in the top of the tenth as they got back-to-back singles to open the inning before Eric Ramirez eventually scorched a two-run double down the right field line that gave the Rainbow Warriors their ultimate 9-7 advantage.
 
However, USF didn't go down without a fight. The Dons got a leadoff walk from Kyle Norman in the bottom of the 10^th and a single by Ryan Matranga that quickly put runners in scoring position. Two batters later, Bruce's walk loaded the bases for what would end up being a controversial ending.
 
With the bases loaded, two outs, and down 0-2 in the count, Valley hit a laser in the hole that was knocked down and recovered by the diving Hawai'i shortstop Jacob Sheldon-Collins. Sheldon-Collins' hasty throw to second to get the closest out appeared to be too late as Bruce came sliding in, but the field umpire ruled Bruce out, ending the game on what may have been a run-scoring infield hit.  
 
"We gave up the lead four times and we battled back four times," said head coach Nino Giarratano on his team's resiliency during the three-game series. "We put ourselves in a really good situation there to probably tie the game or win it.
 
"I thought offensively we were good today. We put together some good at bats and we did some really good things, we were just one at bat short right there."

Joey Carney (0-1) was saddled with the loss after throwing to two batters in the 10^th and allowing two runs on two hits.
 
Giarratano shined for the Dons at the plate, going 3-for-6 with two runs scored and two RBI, while five other Dons recorded multi-hit games on the day.
 
Among the highlights for USF was a strong relief outing by James Kannenberg, who started the fourth inning and went on to throw 4.1 innings, allowing just two runs on three hits while walking three and striking out a season-best five.
 
Kyle Mitchell (1-0) earned the win in relief for the Rainbow Warriors, throwing 0.2 innings, allowing one hit and walking one.
 
Sheldon-Collins (3-for-6, R, RBI) and Kekai Rios (3-for-4, 4 R, RBI) led the Hawai'i offense.
 
 
NOTES: The last time USF used at least nine pitchers in a game was Feb. 20, 2013 vs. San Francisco State… the Dons' 14 hits tied their season high (Feb. 23 at Cal)… this was the Dons' first extra inning ballgame this year… DH Blake Valley hit in the three hole in the lineup for the first time this season… C Dominic Miroglio did not play due to a hand injury sustained when sliding into second base during Saturday's game… this weekend's games were played at Louis Guisto Field due to ongoing construction of USF's new ballpark.   
 
UP NEXT: The Dons travel to UC Davis on Tuesday for a 2 p.m. contest with the Aggies.