It was another day and another tight contest between USF and visiting Loyola Marymount. The Lions would edge out the Dons on a brisk Sunday afternoon rubber match 3-2 leaving USF at 1-2 in conference play after the opening weekend.

"It's good to get started in conference," head coach Nino Giarratano said. "It's tough to lose two out of three at home, but we just didn't execute today."
Sam Granoff (1-2) got the start for USF and gutted his way through 4.2 innings allowing only two runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out two.

"I thought the strike zone was tight to Sam," Giarratano said. "I thought he threw a lot of really good pitches. He was better today than he had been which is great. Outside of the third inning, I thought he looked great."

Granoff was handed a 2-0 lead primarily by the Lions (11-9, 2-1 WCC) defense in the bottom of the second inning.

Ross Puskarich opened the inning by getting drilled on the left shoulder. Then Dominic Miroglio hit a ground ball to the right side but an error by Phil Caulfield allowed both runners to reach safely. Then after Michael Perri reached on a fielder's choice that moved Miroglio to second, Brady Bate chopped a ball to third base which was misplayed and allowed Miroglio to score. Harrison Bruce then hit an RBI groundout to short stop to put the Dons up 2-0. USF would not score again for the rest of the day.

"We played tight today for whatever reason," Giarratano pointed out. "We have got to figure out how to relax and just play. We have got to swing the bats better; just got to stay with it."

Loyola would answer in kind in the top of the third by scoring two of their own. A lead-off double by Jeremy Hill started things off and after a sacrifice bunt, Caulfield knocked him in. After another single and a walk, the second run of the inning scored via wild pitch.

The score would remain tied until the top of the seventh which proved to be quite eventful. Scott Parker was on the mound and walked the lead-off batter. Then Joey Steele entered to pitch for the Dons (11-9, 1-2 WCC) and got the first out on a sacrifice bunt. Niko Decolati then singled past the diving Nico Giarratano but pinch-runner Spencer Erdman slipped running around third base so he did not test the arm of left fielder Matt Sinatro.

Brandon Shearer was up next and he hit a ground ball right at Giarratano. Decolati at first was moving on the pitch leaving little time to turn the inning ending double play. Giarratano would flip to Perri who threw an off-balance heave to first and on an absolute bang-bang play, the runner was called safe and the winning run crossed home plate.

"I thought Michael was a little late getting to the bag," Giarratano explained. "I thought it was a great decision to go for the double play. I just think we were late getting to the bag which caused the off-balance throw. It was a great effort by our guys, just not enough."

Head coach Giarratano saw the play differently than first base umpire Scott Latendre did and left the dugout to voice his displeasure. In the end, Giarratano was ejected from the game, leaving Troy Nakamura as the acting head coach.

The rest of the game would finish without the excitement of the previous two days. The Dons only got three hits on the day with one coming from each of Sinatro, Puskarich and Miroglio.

Brendan Jenkins, Joey Steele and Joey Carney combined for four innings of scoreless relief pitching. In two innings, Jenkins struck out four of seven batters he faced.

Now USF has a game on Tuesday as they host Nevada (purchase tickets by clicking here) before a pair of tough WCC road trips as they visit Gonzaga and San Diego.

"Two losses are not going to take you out of the conference, obviously," Giarratano said. "We just have to stay with it and we can rebound next week. It doesn't get any easier to start. We have Gonzaga then we have San Diego; it's not getting any easier. We're up against it for sure."