SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – It was anybody's game through the first five innings, but Gonzaga strung together multiple-run innings in the sixth, eighth and ninth to secure a 10-2 victory over the USF Dons on Saturday afternoon at Benedetti Diamond.
 
"We were in control of the ballgame for five innings," said head coach Nino Giarratano, "we just didn't execute with our lineup. Good enough in spots, but then we just kind of fell apart there in the end. I thought we played way better than the score dictated."
 
USF starter Thomas Ponticelli (2-4) – whose final line consisted of six innings pitched, three runs on seven hits with two walks and two strikeouts - was looking good through the first five frames, holding Gonzaga scoreless while scattering four hits, including 1-2-3 innings in the third and fourth. Ponticelli was also the beneficiary of 5-4-3 double plays to get out of the first and second innings.
 
However, Gonzaga (21-11, 10-4 WCC) put up three runs in the top of the sixth when right fielder Jace Vandebrake led off the inning with a solo home run and Jeffrey Bohling and Tyler Frost added RBI hits to give the Bulldogs a 3-0 advantage.   
 
Gonzaga added runs in each of the next three innings, capped off by a two-out grand slam by Vandebrake in the top of the ninth off USF reliever Connor Brewster.
 
USF (11-26, 6-8 WCC) answered immediately after Gonzaga scored in the sixth when senior catcher Ryan Matranga ripped a two-out RBI double that brought home Dan James. Earlier that inning Nico Giarratano was thrown out at home trying to tag up on Aaron Ping's fly out to right field with runners on second and third and nobody out.   
 
Matranga was 2 for 4 with an RBI on the day. He was joined by James (3 for 4, R, RBI), Allen Smoot (2 for 4) and Giarratano (2 for 2, BB, HBP), in recording a multi-hit game for the Dons.
 
The Dons added their other run in the bottom of the seventh with James' RBI infield single.
 
USF had no shortage of chances in the contest, stranding a total of 12 runners on base. The Dons had runners at first and third with no outs in the bottom of the second, but were unable to push any across. They also had runners at first and third with two outs in the bottom of the third but a fly out by James ended that inning.
 
James just barely missed out on a potential game-changing home run with a runner on in the bottom of the sixth when his drive sailed a few feet foul down the right field line.  
 
Giarratano did his part with the glove to prevent Gonzaga from putting up more runs as he robbed Sam Brown of a base hit to start the game with a leaping catch. Giarratano later made a nice running throw across his body to nail Patrick Chung with one out and a runner on first in the top of the eighth.
 
Mack Meyer pitched in with a brief shutdown relief outing as he came in with the bases loaded in the top of the eighth and did his job by striking out Taylor Jones to get the Dons out of the inning and limiting the Zags to just two innings in the frame.
 
Zags' starter Eli Morgan (6-1) picked up the victory with 5.2 innings of work where he allowed one run on eight hits while walking two and striking out five.
 
Wyatt Mills earned a save after entering the game with a 3-1 lead in the sixth before going on to finish the game, throwing a total of 3.1 innings, allowing one run (unearned) on three hits with a pair of walks and three strikeouts.
 
Six different Gonzaga hitters tallied multiple hits, led by Vandebrake's 4-for-5 day with two home runs and six RBI.  
 
 
NOTES: INF Allen Smoot has now hit safely in 16 of his last 18 games… OF/IF Matt Siantro - USF's leading base stealer with 19 thefts on the year - was caught stealing twice in a game for the first time this season… at two hours and 51 minutes, this was two minutes shy of the longest game of the year for the Dons… the Dons' eight pitchers used were one shy of the season high of nine (vs. Hawai'i, Feb. 28)… Jace Vandebrake is the first opposing player to hit multiple home runs against the Dons this season.
 
UP NEXT: The Dons and Zags conclude their three-game series on Sunday from Benedetti Diamond with first pitch again slated for 1 p.m. Junior right-hander James Kannenberg (3-3, 3.97) will be looking for his team-leading fourth win as he takes the mound for USF, while Gonzaga's starter will be determined prior to the game.