SPOKANE, Wash. -- Returning to the diamond for the second game of a three-game series to open WCC play, the USF Dons baseball team (9-6, 0-2) came up just short in a back-and-forth 8-7 game against the Gonzaga Bulldogs (5-12, 2-0) on Saturday night at the Patterson Baseball Complex. 

Leading the way for the Dons against the Zags was a highly productive middle of that batting order as Christian Stapleton and Michael Campagna combined to go 6-for-8 at the plate with three doubles and five RBI to power the USF lineup. 

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:

• The Dons continued their strong starts as they scored the first run of the game in the top of the first as Michael Campagna lined an RBI single to left that scored Harris Williams III who led off the game with a walk that put the Dons ahead early. 
• Gonzaga would go on to score the next five runs of the game as they plated two in the bottom of the third on a home run, and then scored three runs with an extended rally as in the fourth inning as they held a 5-1 advantage heading into the middle innings.
• USF's offense started to come alive in the fifth inning as Campagna came through once again with an RBI double to left field that scored DeMera who reached on a walk and got the Dons back within three runs. Adding on another run to get his team even closer, Patrick Keighran drove a base hit up the box that plated Stapleton as USF trailed 5-3 heading into the bottom of the fifth.
• Fighting back to even the game in the seventh inning as Campagna came through with his third RBI knock of the game with an infield single that scored DeMera and got USF back within a run. Tying the game late, Lane Oliphant came through with a sacrifice fly to left field that plated Stapleton as the game was even at 5-all.
• Coming up clutch with two go-ahead runs in the top of the eighth, Stapleton came through with a pulled double down the right field line off a tough lefty to score both Williams III and DeMera to put USF ahead 9-7 heading into the bottom of the eighth.
• Taking back control of the game late, the Bulldogs scored three runs in the bottom of the eighth to lead 8-7 and set the Dons down in the top of the ninth to pick up the win in the second game of the series.

NOTABLE PERFORMANCES:

• Stapleton reached base four times on Saturday going 3-for-3 at the plate with three RBI, a double and a walk against the Bulldogs.
• Campagna recorded a 3-for-5 line at the plate with three RBI and a double against Gonzaga on Saturday night. 
• Providing a spark at the bottom of the batting order, Tyler Martinez went 3-for-5 to raise his batting average over .400 for the season.
• Setting the table at the top of the lineup, Williams III was able to work a pair of walks and scored a pair of runs while also swiping two bases against the Bulldogs. 

UP NEXT:
The series finale of the weekend series in Spokane is set for 1:00 pm on Sunday, Mar. 19 at Patterson Baseball Complex. Live streaming and live statistics for the contest 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 – Coca-Cola - 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.