For Joey Carney, college has been about more than going to class, playing baseball and growing into an adult. His collegiate journey includes a poignant story of donating his liver to his mother Paula, who then tragically passed away due to complications.

Her need for a liver transplant was due to end-stage liver cirrhosis, caused by non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. After his father and two uncles didn't match as a donor, Joey made the difficult decision to be tested and then to ultimately donate approximately 40 percent of his liver to his mom.

Hear from Joey, his father Dale, USF head coach Nino Giarratano, who remarkably was an organ donor for his father, and members of the Diamond Dons baseball team in this featured vignette in the final episode of the season of USF's cable television show, "Behind the Mask."

See that the circle ended up right where it started – on the diamond – as Joey closed out his collegiate career on the mound with Dale and his friends and family in the stands and Paula in his heart.

Watch the episode's debut on Comcast SportsNet California tonight at 5 p.m., and the show will reair on Sunday at 7:30 p.m. Check local listings for additional airdates and times.

In the San Francisco Bay Area, Comcast SportsNet California can typically be found on channel 698 for DirecTV customers, 438 on the Dish Network, 412-01 on Dish Hopper packages, 767 on U-Verse and 41 on most Comcast packages. CSN Bay Area can be generally be accessed at channel 40 on Comcast, 41 on the Dish Network, 696 for DirecTV subscribers, and at 770 on U-Verse.

More on Joey's Journey:
USF pitcher Carney donating part of liver to ailing mother (June 1, 2016) – Janie McCauley, AP
He risked everything to save his mom. A college pitcher's most important save (June 10, 2016) – Mike Hiserman, LA Times
Baseball player's sacrifice can't save his mother (June 30, 2016) – Mike Hiserman, LA Times
San Francisco's Carney pitches again after liver donation, and gets his first college win (Feb. 18, 2017) – Mike Hiserman, LA Times