Dons Erase Early Deficit, Defeat Creighton to Even Series

Saturday, March 16

Omaha, Neb.

12:00 p.m.

University of San Francisco

13-6

Creighton

13-3

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
San Francisco	0	1	0	3	1	0	0	0	1	6	11	2
Creighton	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	3	5	1

Photo by: Christina Leung

3/16/2024 3:26:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

OMAHA, Neb. – The University of San Francisco baseball team (13-6) erased an early deficit to earn a 6-3 victory over Creighton (13-3) Saturday afternoon at Charles Schwab Field Omaha.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:

Creighton jumped in front in the opening frame, scoring a couple of runs to take a 2-0 lead early in the contest. Tate Gillen led off the game with a six-pitch walk and quickly swiped second base, putting himself into scoring position. After Nolan Sailors walked to put two runners aboard, Colby Canales slashed a single through the left side of the infield, scoring Gillen and Sailors.
San Francisco worked its way back into the game in the top half of the second, scoring a run to cut the deficit in half, 2-1. With one out recorded, TJ Rogers and Mattie Thomas notched back-to-back singles, and after a Matty Fun flyout, Tyvon Moore punched an RBI single into left field to score Rogers.
Kody Watanabe provided the Dons with their first lead of the series on a three-run home run in the fourth inning, his second home run of the season, to give the green and gold a 4-2 edge.
Adding another run in the fifth, the Dons extended their advantage to 5-2 on a Matty Fung bases-loaded walk. Patrick Keighran led off the inning with a single to third base and advanced a bag on a throwing error. After two straight outs, Rogers recorded an infield single and Thomas walked to juice the bases. Fung followed with a four-pitch walk, scoring Keighran to extend the Dons' lead.
San Francisco added one final run in the top half of the ninth when Rogers scored from third base on a wild pitch, pushing the lead to 6-2.
Creighton rallied in the final half inning, loading the bases with two straight singles and a San Francisco fielding error. The Bluejays cut the Dons' lead to 6-3 when Ben North hit into a double play, scoring Sailors.

NOTABLE PERFORMANCES:

Watanabe totaled one hit in the contest as he recorded his second home run of the season with a three-run shot in the fourth inning. Watanabe extended his hitting streak to seven straight games and continues to lead the Dons with a .379 batting average.
Rogers posted his fifth multi-hit game, going three-for-four at the plate and scoring a game-high three runs.
Logan Leax and Mattie Thomas totaled two hits apiece for the Dons.
Lance Santerre picked up his second win on the mound this season as he went five innings and allowed only two runs on two hits while striking out three batters.
Gabriel Barrett pitched the final four innings for the Dons, allowing no earned runs on three hits and recording two strikeouts for his second save of the season.

UP NEXT:
San Francisco looks to earn the series win against Creighton at 11 a.m. on Sunday, Mar. 17, at Charles Schwab Field Omaha.

FOLLOW US:
For updates and more information on the San Francisco 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? Get your official San Francisco Dons gear from the University of San Francisco bookstore today! Click here to purchase.

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.