THIS WEEK
USF (16-17, 3-9 WCC) vs. Portland (7-25-1, 3-9 WCC)
Location: San Francisco
Venue: Benedetti Diamond
 
Game 1: Thursday, Apr. 13 
First Pitch: 3 p.m.  
TV/Video: TheW.tv  
Stats: usf.statbroadcast.com
USF: RHP Grant Goodman (2-2, 4.69)
POR: RHP Tate Budnick (1-6, 4.66)
 
Game 2: Friday, Apr. 14 
First Pitch: 3 p.m.  
TV/Video: TheW.tv  
Stats: usf.statbroadcast.com
USF: RHP Thomas Ponticelli (0-1, 2.59)
POR: LHP Grady Miller (1-5, 5.02)
 
Game 3: Saturday, Apr. 15 
First Pitch: 1 p.m.  
TV/Video: TheW.tv  
Stats: usf.statbroadcast.com
USF: RHP Daniel Slominski (2-3, 3.38)
POR: RHP Kevin Baker (2-4, 3.76)

First Pitch
USF (16-17, 3-9 WCC) comes into the series having won their past two contests after salvaging the final game against Saint Mary's, 8-1, on Sunday and defeating Fresno State, 7-6, in midweek action. Portland (7-25-1, 3-9 WCC) is coming off a series loss to Pepperdine at home this past weekend, but, like USF, managed to take the final game of the series by a 2-1 tally in a 16-inning marathon on Sunday. The Pilots lost at No. 22 Oregon, 6-1, on Tuesday. The Dons have won six of their last seven over the Pilots.
 
The Dons At a Glance...                                  
THIS PAST WEEK

• Suffered a 5-3 loss to Saint Mary's on Friday at home after the Gaels broke a 2-2 tie with a three-run seventh inning that proved the difference.
• On Saturday, USF and SMC battled through 14 innings, only to have the Gaels score the go-ahead run with Andrew Shebloski's RBI single in the top of the 14th; both teams combined to go 4-for-35 with runners on base.
• The Dons captured the series finale on Sunday with an 8-1 victory; SMC's Zach Kirtley homered in the first before USF starter Daniel Slominski went on to throw eight complete innings, scattering seven hits and striking out eight in the win.
• In midweek action, USF held off Fresno State for a 7-6 road win on Tuesday after the Bulldogs chipped away at a four-run USF lead; Ross Puskarich drove in four runs and Michael Perri hit three doubles.  

 
 
WHO'S HOT?
Michael Perri has been on a tear of late, hitting .400 (16-40) with seven doubles, a home run and four RBI over the last 10 games. Likewise, Allen Smoot has continued his consistent offensive production, going 16-for-42 with a team-best nine runs scored and eight RBI over that span. On the mound, left-hander Scott Parker hasn't allowed an earned run over his last 7 2/3 innings, going 2-0 with six strikeouts over his last eight appearances.    
 
WHERE THEY STAND
The Dons and Pilots find themselves in need of a second half turnaround as they come into the weekend with identical 3-9 records in WCC play, tied with each other for eighth place. Conference leader BYU (7-2) is trailed closely by San Diego and Loyola Marymount, each at 9-3. USF has upcoming series on tap against Santa Clara (3-6) and Pepperdine (5-4), both teams sitting right above the Dons in the standings.   
 
SOMEBODY STOP THAT GUY
Matt Sinatro comes into the Portland series having reached base in his last 14 games, which stands as the second-best such streak on the team this year behind Nico Giarratano's 15-gamer earlier this year. Sinatro has hit safely in 12 of those 14 contests, while drawing eight walks, and is hitting .322 over that span.  
  
SMOOT BRINGS THE BAT
Allen Smoot has been as steady an offensive presence as the Dons have had this year, ranking in the top-10 in the WCC in average (.328), hits (39) and walks (17). Smoot has registered hits in 16 of the last 19 contests, eight of which have been multi-hit performances, highlighted by a season-best 4-for-5 day in the series finale at Gonzaga on Mar. 26. Altogether, Smoot is tied for the team lead (with Matt Sinatro) in multi-hit performances (11) and is second in multi-RBI games (6).
 
OUCH!
Brady Bate comes into the weekend tied for the WCC lead (with San Diego's Colton Waltner) in hit by pitches, wearing nine bean balls so far on the year. Five more would put Bate among the top-10 in USF single-season record holders in that category.

KEEP 'EM CLOSE
The Dons enter the series with the second-best team ERA in the WCC at 3.60. In 33 games, USF's starters are a combined 7-10 with a 3.92 ERA, while the bullpen has posted a collective 9-7 record with a 3.33 ERA. The team's stingy pitching has been buoyed by the WCC's second-best fielding percentage (.976).
 
IF IT AIN'T BROKE
Left-hander Scott Parker leads the conference in appearances this year with 21. Parker is 3-1 with a 1.96 ERA working exclusively out of the bullpen, primarily in late-game situations where he boasts a 2.06 ERA from the seventh inning on. He has struck out 12 batters in 13.1 innings in those situations.
 
SPEED KILLS
The Dons rank second in the conference with 46 stolen bases as a team. Individually, Tyler Villaroman (13), Matt Sinatro (11), and Harrison Bruce (8) each rank among the top-10 in the WCC this season. Sinatro is trying to match last season's total of 26 stolen bases, which was the eighth-most for a single season in USF history.
 

Scouting Report
 
About Portland
The Pilots are coming off a 6-1 loss at No. 22 Oregon this past Tuesday, which followed a home series against Pepperdine in which Portland lost two of three but captured the series finale, a 16-inning marathon that UP won, 2-1, on a walk-off bases-loaded walk. The Pilots' lone WCC series win so far came in taking two of three over Santa Clara, while being swept by Saint Mary's and San Diego. Sophomore infielder Matt Kelly has been an all-around threat leading the UP offense. Kelly ranks in the top-10 in the WCC in batting average (.325) and runs scored (22), while his 11 stolen bases are third in the conference and his 40 hits on the year are the fourth-most in the WCC. Junior infielder Ryan Hoogerwerf has been the Pilots' top power threat with four long balls heading into the series. On the mound, sophomore right-hander Kevin Baker (2-4, 3.76) ranks third in the WCC with 54 strikeouts and is the only Pilot hurler with multiple wins so far.
 
Series Notes Against Portland
USF holds a 43-23 advantage in the series under head coach Nino Giarratano (since 1999) and has won six of the last seven meetings. USF took two of three last year in Portland, which followed a three-game sweep at USF in 2015. Portland's last series win came in 2014 when the Pilots took two of three at home, while their last sweep over the Dons came in 2012. The Dons won 14 in a row between 2003 and 2005, the longest winning streak for either side during Giarratano's tenure.  
   
Last Time Out
The Dons had the offense clicking with Ross Puskarich driving in four runs and Michael Perri delivering three doubles, while the USF bullpen contributed a bend-but-don't-break performance as the Dons held on for a 7-6 win over Fresno State on Tuesday evening from Pete Beiden Field. USF led 7-3 heading into the seventh inning before a pair of RBI singles in the seventh and another run-scoring base hit in the eighth brought Fresno State within one. Right-hander Brendan Jenkins was able to close it out by picking up his second save, allowing just a walk in the ninth inning while striking out two of the three batters he faced. Puskarich delivered a two-run single in the third that helped the Dons take a 3-0 lead before adding a two-run double in the seventh. Perri, meanwhile, racked up the extra bases in helping get USF on the board with his RBI double in the first and doubles in the fifth and seventh innings. His double in the fifth put runners on second and third with no outs, but the next three Dons struck out. Fresno State was held in check by USF starter Sam Granoff over the first three innings, mustering just a walk and a base hit through the first three frames. But the Bulldogs struck in the bottom of the fourth with back-to-back singles to start the inning before Aaron Arruda lifted a three-run home run to left field, tying the game at 3-3.

On Deck
Following the weekend series with the Pilots, the Dons face Sacramento State in home-and-home nonconference contests next Monday and Tuesday. Monday's game will be at 6 p.m. in Sacramento, with the teams returning to Benedetti Diamond on Tuesday for a 3 p.m. matchup. The Dons will then travel south for a three-game series at Santa Clara next weekend.
 
Fan Guide
                                                         
Promotions
This Saturday's series finale will be an Easter celebration at Benedetti Diamond. Fans of all ages can enjoy a special visit from the Easter Bunny and help hunt for Easter eggs hidden around the ballpark!
 
Ticket Information
Individual game tickets for all USF home games at Benedetti Diamond are available online at USFDons.com or by calling (415) 422-2USF. General admission tickets are available for as low as $10, while reserved seats can be purchased for $15. All USFCA faculty, staff and students with a valid ID, and youth 12 and under enter free.
 
Parking Information
Parking on campus for baseball games requires a day-use permit that can be purchased at the parking kiosk in the Hayes-Healy parking lot (located along Golden Gate Ave. in between War Memorial at the Sobrato Center and the Hayes Healy dorms). This permit is also good at the Koret Health and Recreation Center lot (at the corner of Parker Ave. and Turk St.). Street parking is also available around campus, but visitors are reminded to take notice of signs displaying city parking restrictions for each street. Refer to the USF Department of Public Safety parking webpage for a map of parking on campus.