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Mario DeMera Action Shot
Christina Leung
11
Winner UTAH UTAH 1-0
9
San Francisco USF 0-1
Winner
UTAH UTAH
1-0
11
Final
9
San Francisco USF
0-1
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
UTAH UTAH 8 0 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 11 12 3
San Francisco USF 0 0 2 0 1 0 1 2 3 9 17 1

W: Day, Cam (1-0) L: Hearn, Will (0-1) S: McCleve, Zac (1)

Game Recap: Baseball |

Dons Drop Hard Fought Opener to Utes

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. -- Beginning a new era of baseball on the Hilltop, the USF Dons baseball team (0-1) battled until the final out as they fell 11-9 to the Utah Utes (1-0) on Friday afternoon from Benedetti Diamond.

Leading the offensive charge for USF against Utah was Harris Williams III, who was able to reach base all five times he came to the plate with a 4-for-4 performance, scoring three runs and driving in a pair on Opening Day. Hitting in the three-hole, Mario DeMera went 3-for-5 at the dish with a pair of RBI and a run scored to begin his 2023 season.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:
  • The visiting Utes came out of the gates hot as they scored eight runs in the top of the first inning before bolstering their lead two innings later to make it 10-0 Utah heading into the Dons' half of the third.
  • USF's rally began in the bottom of the third inning as JT Amaral laced a double down the left field line to score Williams III for his first collegiate hit and RBI of his career. DeMera immediately followed with an RBI knock of his own as the Dons cut their deficit down to 10-2 through three innings.
  • After the Utes scored their 11th and final run of the afternoon, DeMera picked up his second RBI of the day with an opposite field single that scored Amaral to make it 11-3 Utah after five innings of play.
  • The Dons would begin their comeback late in the game as Christian Stapleton drove in Williams III with an RBI fielder's choice as the Utes held an 11-4 lead heading into the eighth inning.
  • In the bottom of the eighth, Williams III hit the left center gap and beat the outstretched glove of the Utes' outfielder that scored Ryan Martinez and TJ Rogers and brought their deficit down to 11-6 heading into the ninth.
  • With the Utes threatening to expand their lead in the ninth, Oscar Lepe dialed up a huge double play that was turned by Rogers and R. Martinez that ended Utah's threat and put the Dons' in the dugout ready to fight with three outs remaining.
  • Providing some offensive thunder late, Stapleton connected on a long two-run homer down the right field line that scored DeMera and brought USF within three. Ryan Martinez then got the Dons even closer by sneaking a ball inside the bag and down the right field line that scored Rogers for USF's final run in the 11-9 season-opening defeat. 
NOTABLE PERFORMANCES:
  • Williams III led the way for the Dons on Friday as he went 4-for-4 with a double, walk, three runs scored and a pair of RBI to begin his season.
  • DeMera had a great season debut against Utah going 3-for-5 at the dish with a double, two RBI and a run scored on Friday.
  • Stapleton hit the first home run for USF in 2023 as he absolutely belted a home run over the extened netting in right field that provided a late spark for his team while driving in three total runs for his team.
  • Making key plays all around the diamond and collecting three hits, Rogers had an impactful debut for the Dons as he scored a pair of runs and turned a pair of key double plays at shortstop.
  • On the mound, Kaleb Woltz, Gabriel Barrett and Lepe combined to toss 8 1/3 innings, allowing three total runs, striking out five batters and walking four to keep the Dons in the game as the offense worked to cut into the deficit. 
POST GAME WITH THE DONS:
  • To view the highlights from today's season opener against Utah, please click here. 
  • To view the post game press conference with Dons' head coach Rob DiToma, please click here. 
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.

MERCHANDISE:
Want to dress like the Dons? Rep USF today by visiting the all-new USF Dons online store at www.usfdons.com/shop.
 
SPONSOR THE DONS:
The University of San Francisco Athletics Department would like to acknowledge and thank our primary sponsor - Provident Credit Union - for their continued support of USF Athletics. Interested in sponsoring the Dons? Please contact Frank Allocco, the Executive Senior Associate Athletics Director of External Relations, at fallocco@usfca.edu or at (415) 422-4561.
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