SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. -- Following their impressive comeback victory in walk-off fashion, the USF Dons baseball team (11-8) are back to work this weekend as they begin conference play with a three game series against the Santa Clara Broncos (9-6). 

The Dons have been an impressive team on their home diamond this season with a 10-3 overall record as they've won six in a row on the Hilltop and have lost just once since dropping two of three to then No. 17 Santa Barbara in the season opening weekend.

SERIES DETAILS:

Friday, Mar. 18, 2022
Santa Clara vs USF
RHP Cole Kitchen (1-1, 3.80 ERA) vs RHP Owen Stevenson (1-1, 2.11 ERA)

Links: Watch | Live Stats

Saturday, Mar. 19, 2022
Santa Clara vs USF
TBD vs LHP Weston Lombard (2-1, 2.61 ERA) 

Links: Watch | Live Stats

Sunday, Mar. 20, 2022
Santa Clara vs USF
TBD vs RHP Jesse Barron (2-1, 4.50 ERA) 

Links: Watch | Live Stats

BACK IN THE WIN COLUMN:

• It was a momentous return home to Benedetti Diamond as the Dons baseball team walked off the Sacramento State Hornets for a 6-5 win in 11 innings on Tuesday. 
• Utilizing a whole staff effort on the mound, the USF pitching staff was electric throughout as they struck out 18 Hornet hitters in the victory as seven pitchers combined to throw the 11 innings necessary to get the win.
• USF has continued to pace the conference in stolen bases and Tuesday was no different as USF swiped six bags in the win with three from Darius Foster, two by Luke Keaschall and one from Harris Williams III as well.
• A revelation for USF in the early season has been the outstanding play of first baseman Gabe Giosso, who's second on the team in batting average (.315), first in on-base percentage (.448) and is tied for the team lead with three home runs through 19 games.

SCOUTING THE BRONCOS:

• Santa Clara is off to a 9-6 start this season as they began the month of March with a four game winning streak as they swept UC San Diego and defeated Cal in Berkeley. In their most recent series they dropped two of three against Texas A&M on the road before arriving on the Hilltop.
• In the batter's box the Broncos have been led by junior outfielder Coleman Brigman, who's leading his team with a .359 batting average so far this season and is tied for the team with six doubles in the early season.
• Friday afternoon starting pitcher Cole Kitchen will be making his sixth appearance and fifth start for the Broncos this season as he's posted a 1-1 record and a 3.80 ERA to go along with an impressive 35 strikeouts in 21 1/3 innings of work.
• At the plate, the Broncos haven't been driving the ball with authority through the early points of the season as they've hit a combined five home runs as a team through 15 games and have a below average .386 team slugging percentage. 

TRACK THE ACTION:
Live stream of all three of this weekend's games will be available through the WCC Network, live stats are also available and can be found on the team's schedule page via usfdons.com. 

FOLLOW US:
For updates and more information on the USF baseball program, be sure to follow @SFDonsBaseball on Twitter, @USFDonsBaseball on Instagram and @University.of.San.Francisco.Baseball on Facebook.