SAN FRANCISCO/STOCKTON, Calif. -- Coming off a big walk-off win in their series finale against LMU, the USF Dons baseball team (10-10, 1-5) is back in action this week starting with a weekday home game against the California Golden Bears (10-10, 2-7) on Wednesday, March 29 before starting a three game road weekend series against the Pacific Tigers (8-14, 1-5) starting on Friday, March 31 from Klein Family Field. 

The Dons are set to take on fellow Bay Area foe Cal on Wednesday afternoon from the Hilltop for the first of two meetings between the two this season. USF will then head back onto the road to face off with the Pacific Tigers for three games in Stockton as the Dons are currently riding a five-game winning streak against the Tigers dating back to the 2021 season. 

GAME DETAILS vs Cal:

Wednesday, March 29, 2023
California vs. USF | 3:00 PM PST
Benedetti Diamond | San Francisco, Calif.
Probable Pitchers: CAL #21 RHP Andres Galan (0-1, 8.10 ERA) vs. USF #35 RHP Matt McConnell (1-0, 5.65 ERA) 
Watch | Live Stats

SERIES DETAILS vs Pacific:

Friday, March 31, 2023
USF vs. Pacific | 6:00 PM PST
Klein Family Field | Stockton, Calif.
Probable Pitchers: USF TBD vs. PAC TBD
Watch | Live Stats

Saturday, April 1, 2023
USF vs. Pacific | 3:00 PM PST
Klein Family Field | Stockton, Calif.
Probable Pitchers: USF TBD vs. PAC TBD
Watch | Live Stats

Sunday, April 2, 2023
USF vs. Pacific | 1:00 PM PST
Klein Family Field | Stockton, Calif.
Probable Pitchers: USF TBD vs. PAC TBD
Watch | Live Stats

THINGS TO KNOW:

• USF is looking to get back over the .500 mark this week with four games on the schedule against Northern California opponents. The Dons fought back with a late inning rally in their series finale against the LMU Lions as Blake Atkins worked a two-out bases loaded walk to tie the game in the ninth, and followed that up with a walk-off home run to right field from Will Asby for their first WCC win.
• Leading the way for the Dons offensively this season has been the consistent excellence from infielder Mario DeMera who's done a great job of getting on base for USF to the tune of a .465 on-base percentage as well as an OPS north of .900 through the season's first 20 games.
• On the mound, USF's bullpen has been anchored by the strong pitching from left-hander Oscar Lepe who is currently tied for the conference lead with three wins out of the pen while accumulating a 1.84 ERA in 14 2/3 innings pitched this season. Right-hander Matt McConnell is also set to make his first career collegiate start on Wednesday against the Golden Bears.
• Pacing the rest of the WCC in base stealing, Harris Williams III currently leads the conference with 13 stolen bases on the season with Tyler Martinez right behind tied for second in bases swiped with eight and DeMera is tied for fourth with six stolen bases. The Dons as a team have recorded 44 stolen bases as a team which is 16 more than second place Santa Clara this season.

SCOUTING THE GOLDEN BEARS:

• Cal currently has the same overall record as USF with a 10-10 mark on the season as the Dons will be the first WCC team the Golden Bears have faced this season.
• Getting the start against USF on Wednesday afternoon, senior right-handed pitcher Andres Galan will be making his third start of the season and in his last time out threw one scoreless inning against the USC Trojans allowing just one hit in his inning of work.
• Leading the way at the plate for Cal, sophomore catcher Caleb Lomavita is hitting a team-high .291 at the plate to go along with five home runs 16 RBI during the 2023 season.

SCOUTING THE TIGERS:

• UOP enters this weekend with an 8-14 overall record as through the first two weekends of the season they dropped two of three to San Diego before being swept by Portland on their home diamond last weekend.
• Providing some thump in their batting order, graduate student outfielder Ben Nemivant currently leads the WCC with a .453 batting average on the season to go along with a home run and 20 RBI so far during the 2023 season.
• On the mound, senior left-handed pitcher Grant Stevens has made six starts for his team this season while posting a 2-3 record with a 6.34 ERA and a .326 batting average against as he allowed seven earned runs in six innings his last time out against the Pilots. 

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 – ABM - 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.