THE RUNDOWN
Eugene, Ore. - The University of San Francisco's baseball team finished off its four-game road trip to Oregon with a 5-1 win over the University of Oregon.
 
The Dons (16-8, 6-0 WCC) got the scoring going early, beginning with a lead-off single to left center field by Jonathan Allen. Allen would advance to second on a wild pitch, then was driven home by Ross Puskarich with a two-out double down the left field line to make it 1-0, USF.
 
Daniel Slominski took to the mound for his second start of the year, tossing three scoreless innings and allowing just one hit. In his third inning of work, Slominski allowed Oregon (14-9, 2-4 Pac 12) to get runners in scoring on the corners, but forced an inning ending double play to keep the Ducks scoreless.
 
The pitching trio of Grant Goodman, Grant Young and Alex Pham would keep the Ducks scoreless for seven innings, allowing just three hits over the course of four innings. Offensively, the seventh inning would be the biggest inning for USF as the tagged the Oregon pitching staff for three runs.
 
Matt Campos got the inning started with a lead-off single to right-center field, and next up was Jason Kreske who earned a walk. Jack Winkler squared for a sacrifice bunt, which he did successfully while reaching first to load the bases. Jonathan Allen walked to score Campos and give the Dons a 2-0 lead. The DH spot, Riley Helland, stepped up next for the Dons and singled up the middle to drive in Kreske to make it 3-0. Puskarich would drive in the final run of the inning with a single to left-field to make it 4-0 to USF.
 
USF would add a much-needed insurance run in the top of the eighth when Helland singled up the middle again to drive in a run and make it 5-0, USF. However, the Ducks would get a run of their own in the bottom half of the inning. Scott Parker came on in the eighth inning for Pham and got the first batter out. He would the allow back-to-back-to-back singles to load the bases before walking in the first run of the game for Oregon. Joey Steele came on for Parker and popped the next two batters up to keep the score at 5-1.
 
Brendan Jenkins would close out the final three outs in quick fashion, forcing three ground outs to the right side of the infield.
 
With this win the Dons are now 16-8 on the season with a West Coast Conference three-game series against the University of San Diego coming up on Thursday.
 
COACHES QUOTES
Head Coach Nino Giarratano
On the pitching performance today:
"I thought we pitched pretty well all weekend, and today was no different. We threw a lot of strikes and got ahead of hitters. I thought Slominksi and Goodman were fabulous, giving us five good innings to start the game. Everyone who went to the mound today came out and attacked the batters. Scott I think we used a bit much throughout the weekend and would have liked to have given him a day to rest, but I thought we could use him for one inning of work. Jenkins, again, came in at the end and pitched really well."
 
On scoring early runs:
"Jon Allen really swung the bat well today, and you have Riley Helland and Ross Puskarich behind him swinging well too, it puts you with runners in scoring position right away. We had a couple other guys come up big with some hits and at-bats, which got us up to five runs in the end. We would have liked to have scored a few more today, but five was enough for us to win it with the way we pitched.
 
On winning on the road:
"I think if you can pitch well and score runs on the road, like we did today, you are going to be very successful away from home. Last year one of those things was missing for us, either we scored runs but didn't get good pitching or vice versa. The team is playing with a lot of confidence right now, but they know what's ahead of them and that they need to keep playing good baseball. Any time you can go on the road and win four straight, you're excited about the direction your team is heading."
 
GAME STATS

•  With his two RBIs today, Ross Puskarich moves into a tie for the team lead in that category with Michael Perri at 19 on the season.
• Riley Helland's two RBI day has him just behind Puskarich and Perri in that category with 16 total.
• Jonathan Allen added to his team leading hit total today with two hits, putting him at 34 on the year.
• Slominski, in his second start of the season, earned his second win overall.
• With his scoreless ninth inning, Brendan Jenkins moves his team low ERA to 1.33.
• Scott Parker's appearance today is his 12th of the season, which leads the bullpen in appearances by a member of the pitching staff.