SAN FRANCISCO – Left-hander Sam Granoff battled through a tough first two innings before settling in and the offense came through in the form of Brady Bate and Ross Puskarich, who each homered in the Dons' 7-2 win over Cal on Tuesday afternoon from Benedetti Diamond.
 
Granoff (2-3) allowed a leadoff single that led to a run-scoring base hit by Andrew Vaughn in the top of the first before allowing another single and hitting a batter. With the bases loaded, Granoff was able to induce a comebacker and a ground out to third base to escape the first frame with just one run coming across.
 
That would end up being the only run Granoff allowed over six innings of work in which he scattered seven hits, walked a batter and struck out one. It was Granoff's first win since his season debut against Northern Colorado on Feb. 19, a span of eight appearances.
 
"I think the highlight was getting out of the first inning allowing just one run," head coach Nino Giarratano said, "and seeing Sam be able to extend for six innings. He struggled but then settled in and that was big for us to be able to rest our bullpen.
 
"I always want to give them a chance on Tuesdays to work through it, but at the same time I don't want to give up a bunch of runs. I think the difference for Sam today was anytime he can only walk one guy and he competes in the strike zone he's going to be effective."
 
Granoff also worked out of trouble in the second inning after walking the leadoff hitter Preston Grand Pre and allowing a one-out base hit to Tyrus Greene, who proved difficult to corral all day by going 4-for-5 at the plate for Cal. Granoff was able to get consecutive ground balls to Allen Smoot at third base to end the inning unscathed.
 
From there Cal (19-19) only placed one more runner in scoring position during Granoff's outing.
 
Supporting Granoff on the offensive side were Bate and Puskarich, who clubbed their fourth and third home runs, respectively. Bate connected with one out in the bottom of the second after Michael Perri led off the inning with a single. The next inning saw Puskarich turn around 1-1 offering from Cal starter Rogelio Reyes (2-5) and deposit it into the netting in left center to give USF (22-20) a 5-1 lead. Puskarich's three-run shot came on the heels of back-to-back two-out walks to Riley Helland and Perri.
 
Smoot and Helland each added RBI singles in the bottom of the sixth to give the Dons plenty of cushion.
 
"I was really happy offensively with eight guys in the lineup with a hit today," Giarratano added. "That's pretty good production any time you can get that many guys going."
 
Cal plated their final run in the eighth when pinch-hitter Conner Bock drew a bases-loaded walk against USF reliever Benji Post. Post had allowed a two-out single to Tanner Dodson and walked two hitters.
 
USF returns to WCC action on Thursday when they open up a three-game series at BYU. First pitch for the series opener is slated for 5 p.m. Pacific Time from BYU's Miller Field.