STOCKTON, Calif. – Brady Bate made it interesting with a three-run home run on a 2-2 count with two outs in the top of the ninth to bring the Dons within two, but that would end up being as close as USF would get in a 5-3 loss at Pacific on Friday evening from Klein Family Field. The loss drops the Dons to 8-17 overall and 3-2 in West Coast Conference play.   
                   
"It was a positive that we were able to put three up in the ninth and get their starter for tomorrow on the field," said head coach Nino Giarratano. "It was also a positive for us to put some zeros up in between there to give us a chance and stay close. I thought Brock [Larson] was good out of the pen, I thought Joey Steele was good, and I thought [Benji] Post was good.
 
"On the negative side, we didn't execute in the first – we had four windows to take a 1-0 lead, but we ended up down 2-0. And Post wasn't ready to pitch; I did a poor job getting him prepared in the bullpen; just miscommunication on my part. We should be in better control of the things we can control. We've got to come back tomorrow and try to salvage the series."  
 
USF starter Chase Gardner (0-3) took the loss when he only lasted 1.1 innings where he allowed two runs on four hits when he was replaced by Benji Post with runners on first and second with one out in the bottom of the second with the Dons already trailing 2-0.
 
Post matched his season-high with four innings pitched in relief where he allowed two runs on six hits while walking two.
 
Bate (2-for-4, HR, 3 RBI) was the Dons' offensive motor, while Blake Valley (2-for-4) contributed a pair of doubles on the night.
 
Pacific (8-13, 2-3) got out to an early lead when Gardner hit the first UOP batter of the game before allowing a double off the left field wall to Louis Mejia that helped setup Danny Mayer's RBI groundout to shortstop and Gio Brusa's run-scoring single up the middle.   
 
Post then walked the first two batters he faced in the bottom of the second after relieving Gardner, one of which came with the bases loaded and helped UOP take a 3-0 lead. 
 
Mayer's solo home run to the deepest part of the ballpark in center field led off the bottom of the fifth for Pacific and was followed by Brusa coming across two batters later when he took third on a wild pitch and scored on the ensuing throwing error from USF catcher Ryan Matranga, giving UOP a 5-0 advantage.
 
The Dons only had two hits through the first five innings. At one point, Pacific starter Ricky Reynoso retired 12 hitters in a row between the second and sixth innings, until Blake Valley lined a double into the left field corner with two outs in the bottom of the sixth, where he was ultimately stranded when Matt Sinatro lined out to left.
 
Following Bate's home run in the ninth, Dan James blooped a two-out double down the left field line, but was stranded as Riley Helland lined out to left to end the game.
 
Reynoso (2-2) went seven scoreless innings, scattering four hits with one walk while striking out nine. Jake Jenkins earned his second save of the year after getting the only batter he faced with two outs and a runner on second in the ninth.  
 
Brusa (4-for-4, 2 2B, R, RBI) and JP Yakel (3-for-3) logged perfect days at the plate for the Tigers, while Mayer (1-for-4, HR) added a pair of RBI on the night.
 
 
WEB GEMS: With the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the seventh, Matt Sinatro tracked down a soft liner off the bat of Lucas Halstead, making a diving catch in short left center to prevent multiple runs from scoring.
 
NOTES: The Dons have scored in the eighth inning or later in 13 of their last 18 games… RF Beau Bozett had his 13-game on-base streak snapped after going hitless in his one plate appearance… 3B Allen Smoot has now hit safely in his last five contests... USF left five runners on base, while Pacific stranded eight.
 
UP NEXT: The Dons and Tigers will conclude their WCC series at Pacific's Klein Family Field at 2 p.m. on Saturday. RHP James Kannenberg (2-1, 3.49) will matchup with RHP Jake Jenkins (1-1, 2.96).