STOCKTON, Calif. – Beginning another weekend conference series away from the Hilltop, the USF Dons baseball team's (10-11, 1-6) comeback fell short in their first matchup with the Pacific Tigers (9-14, 2-5) by a 9-7 final score from the Central Valley on Friday night.
 
The Dons' bats came to play in the first game from Stockton as Mario DeMera led the way going 3-for-5 at the plate while Ryan Martinez reached base three times and connected for his first home run of the season against the Tigers.
 
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:

• The hometown Tigers were able to get on the board first on Friday night on a home run in the bottom of the second for the first run of the game.
• USF was able to build a rally of their own in the top of third that was spearheaded by the team's sibling duo as R. Martinez led off the inning with a solo home run and Tyler Martinez lined a double to left field. Tyler then came around to score on an RBI single from DeMera to give the Dons the lead as USF's third baseman would come around for the Dons' third run of the inning on a sacrifice fly from Will Asby to make it 3-1 USF.
• Pacific would then go on to take control of the middle innings of the game as they would score the next eight runs across the fourth through seventh innings to build their lead to 9-3 heading into the top of the eighth.
• Asby was able to help USF get a little bit closer with an opposite field RBI single to left that scored Harris Williams III who led off the Dons' eighth with a walk. Patrick Keighran would come through with a run scoring plate appearance as he lined a sacrifice fly to center field that scored DeMera and got the Dons back within four runs.
• Despite being down to their final three outs, USF wasn't ready to give in as R. Martinez reached on a walk to lead off the inning and scored on another DeMera RBI single to get back within three runs. Michael Campagna would drive in another as he hit a sac fly to left field that scored T. Martinez to make it 9-7 which ended up being the final score in the series opener.

 NOTABLE PERFORMANCES:

• DeMera had a sensational game on Friday as he went 3-for-5 at the plate with a pair of RBI and runs scored against Pacific.
• R. Martinez had a nice day at the plate including driving his first home run of the season over the wall in left as he went 1-for-2 with the home run, two walks and a pair of runs scored.
• T. Martinez went 2-for-4 with a pair of runs scored at the bottom of the USF order against the Tigers.
• Campagna also went 2-for-4 with an RBI as he caught for the Dons and hit third on Friday night.
• On the mound, Gabriel Barrett tossed one scoreless inning and struck out a UOP hitter against Pacific.

 UP NEXT:
USF now continues their series against the Tigers with the second of the three-game set tomorrow, April 1 at 3:00 p.m from Klein Family Field. 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 – 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 o