SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – Wrapping up the 2023 collegiate baseball season on a high note, the USF Dons baseball team (18-29, 8-19) picked up an impressive 4-2 victory over the Portland Pilots (28-21,17-10) on Saturday afternoon at Benedetti Diamond.
 
Tyler Martinez led the way by hitting the first two home runs of his collegiate career on his Senior Day while JT Amaral also left the yard for the first time as a Don on Saturday afternoon. Getting the job done on the mound for USF as well, Jesse Barron wrapped up his collegiate career by tossing 6 2/3 innings of two run ball to pick up his fifth victory of the season.
 
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:

• The Pilots were able to get off to a quick start in the series finale on Saturday as they plated a pair of early runs in the top of the first to take a 2-0 lead.
• Answering back immediately in the bottom of the first, T. Martinez drove a ball deep to right field off the wall and hustled all the way out of the batter's box for the inside the park home run to cut the Portland lead down to 2-1 early in the contest.
• Down a run in the bottom of the fourth, Zach Griffin led off the inning and Will Asby followed with one of his own to put a pair of runners on. Ryan Martinez then came through with an RBI single up the middle that evened the score at 2-apiece through the middle innings.
• With the score still tied late in the game, Amaral came through with a go-ahead solo shot to left field to put the Dons ahead 3-2 but they weren't done yet. T. Martinez came through again with a big fly as he snuck a ball over the wall in left field to put USF ahead by a pair leading 4-2 with only two innings left to play.
• Weston Lombard came in and threw 2 1/3 scoreless innings to help the Dons shut the door on Portland to pick up the 4-2 victory in the final game of the season.

NOTABLE PERFORMANCES:

• Putting together a career afternoon at the plate, T. Martinez went 2-for-5 with his pair of home runs against the Pilots on Saturday.
• Setting the tone on the mound in his season finale, Barron tossed 6 2/3 innings of two run ball allowing four hits and striking out three Portland hitters.
• Amaral had a big day at the plate going 2-for-4 and connecting on his first collegiate home run in the series finale.
• Excelling at the back end of the bullpen, Lombard threw 2 1/3 scoreless frames by allowing just a pair of hits and striking out one hitter against the Pilots.
• Serving as the team's DH on Saturday, Griffin was able to reach base three times as he went 1-for-2 with a walk, hit by pitch and a run scored against Portland.

POST GAME WITH THE DONS:

• To view the highlights from today's game, please click here.
• To view our post game press conference with USF head baseball coach Rob DiToma, please click here.

THANK YOU, DONS FANS:
On behalf of the Dons' athletic department, we want to thank you for following along during the 2023 USF baseball season. We can't wait to see you at Benedetti Diamond next February for the 2024 season.

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 – Planet Orange - 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.