SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. -- Wrapping their first series of the 2023 season, the USF Dons baseball team (3-1) scored early and the pitching staff put up nine consecutive zeroes to earn the 3-0 victory over the Utah Utes (1-3) on Monday afternoon at Benedetti Diamond.
Led my the triumphant return to the mound from right-hander
Max Jones and a big two-run double from
Christian Stapleton, USF used strong pitching and defense to win their third straight game to send the home fans home happy on President's Day.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:
- Following Jones' one-two-three top of the first in his return to the mound, the Dons wasted little time to give him an early lead as Stapleton laced a double down the right field line that scored both JT Amaral and Mario DeMera to give USF the 2-0 lead at the end of the first inning.
- After Jones got through three scoreless innings in his first outing in over two seasons, Blake Wittman came in and made his season debut and threw two scoreless innings of his own to keep the score at 2-0 Dons heading into the sixth.
- USF added their third and final run of the afternoon in the bottom of the sixth inning as DeMera reached following a line drive single back up the box, advanced to second on a wild pitch, took third on Amaral's fly out to left and scored on a wild pitch to make it 3-0 Dons heading into the final three innings.
- After left-hander Hunter Holzemer made his collegiate debut and tossed three scoreless innings, reliever Oscar Lepe tossed a one-two-three ninth inning to earn his first save of the season to give the Dons the series victory to open the new season.
NOTABLE PERFORMANCES:
- Leading the way for the Dons at the plate was DeMera's 3-for-4 day at the plate as he scored a pair of runs in Monday's victory.
- Stapleton also had a key hit in the win as he went 1-for-4 with the big two-run double that gave USF the lead as they never looked back.
- Jones had a nice debut on the mound for USf making his return from Tommy John surgery, as he threw three scoreless innings, allowed just a pair of hits, didn't issue a walk and recorded a strikeout against Utah.
- Wittman picked up the first victory of his collegiate career as he tossed a pair of scoreless innings in middle relief for the Dons on Monday.
- Getting his college career off on the right foot, Holzemer pitched three scoreless innings and recorded three strikeouts while allowing just a single walk and hit against the Utes.
- Recording his first save at the Division I level, Lepe made quick work of Utah in the top of the ninth to give his team the victory.
POSTGAME WITH THE DONS:
UP NEXT:
The Dons now head to Southern California for their first weekend road series of the year as they will face off with the CSUN Matadors (3-0) beginning on Friday, Feb. 24 at 2:00 p.m. from Matador Field. Live streaming and live statistics are available via the
team's schedule page.
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 our department sponsor – 25 Ventures - 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.
