PORTLAND, Ore. – The University of San Francisco baseball team (19-25, 3-12 WCC) continues conference play when it hits the road to take on Portland (24-17, 10-5 WCC) in a three-game series on Thursday, May 2 – Saturday, May 4, at Joe Etzel Field.
 
SERIES DETAILS
GAME 45: Thursday, May 2, 2024
Time: 6 p.m.
Opponent: Portland
Site: Joe Etzel Field
Location: Portland, Ore.
Watch: ESPN+
Live Stats: Statbroadcast
 
GAME 46: Friday, May 3, 2024
Time: 6 p.m.
Opponent: Portland
Site: Joe Etzel Field
Location: Portland, Ore.
Watch: ESPN+
Live Stats: Statbroadcast
 
GAME 47: Saturday, May 4, 2024
Time: 1 p.m. 
Opponent: Portland
Site: Joe Etzel Field
Location: Portland, Ore.
Watch: ESPN+
Live Stats: Statbroadcast
 
DONS AT A GLANCE:

• San Francisco enters its road set at Portland coming off a series win over Pacific on Friday, Apr. 26 – Sunday, Apr. 28. After dropping the first game of the weekend, the Dons bounced back, and earned back-to-back victories over the Tigers to secure the series.
• Matty Fung led the Dons offensively throughout the weekend, batting .500 (six-for-12) with four doubles, three runs, and eight RBI. In the 7-5 come-from-behind victory on Saturday, Apr. 27, Fung spearheaded the rally with two late base hits, a two-RBI double in the fourth inning, and the go-ahead two-RBI single in the eighth to solidify the win.
• Blake Pitts shined in the rubber match on Sunday, Apr. 28, helping guide the green and gold to a 10-1. In just his second start of the season, Pitts collected a season-high three hits, including his first-career triple, scored four runs, and recorded an RBI.
• Joe Soberon earned the win on the mound in the series finale, pitching a solid five innings, allowing just one hit, one walk, and fanned six batters. His six-strikeout performance marked the sixth time he has struck out at least five batters in a single outing.
• Through 44 games, Kody Watanabe continues to lead San Francisco in multiple offensive categories, including runs scored (26), hits (45), doubles (12), RBI (29), and hit by pitch (20). In the three-game set against Pacific, Watanabe got back on track as he batted .364 (four-for-11) with a double, three RBI, three runs scored, and a stolen base.
• On the mound, Soberon and Lance Santerre have been solid for the Dons, as the duo has combined for 97 strikeouts in 112.2 innings pitched. Soberon leads the team with a 3.39 earned-run average, sixth best in the WCC, while Santerre has accumulated a 4.01 earned-run average in 10 starts this season.
• As a team, San Francisco ranks seventh in the WCC with a batting average of .245 and is tied for second in the league in pitching with a 4.65 earned-run average. The Dons' pitching staff has allowed the second-least amount of hits this season, giving up just 360, while ranking second in opponent batting average at .256.

SCOUTING THE PILOTS:

• Losing four of its last five games, Portland is coming off a series loss at LMU, dropping the rubber match 9-7 on Sunday, Apr. 28.
• The Pilots struggled against the Lions in the series opener, totaling only four hits while being shut out in a 4-0 loss on Friday, Apr. 26. The Pilots rebounded to even the series with a narrow 7-6 victory on Saturday before falling in the finale to drop their second straight conference series.
• Ben Patacsil leads the team in hitting with a .350 batting average, totaling 42 hits in 120 at-bats. Jake Holcroft ranks second on the team with a .329 batting average while leading the Pilots and ranking fourth in the WCC with 56 base hits. The duo also leads the team with 30 RBI.
• As a team, Portland ranks third in the WCC in batting average (.282) and tied for second in earned-run average (4.65). The Pilots have seven players with a .260 batting average or better averaging at least two plate appearances per game.

SERIES HISTORY:
Since the 2006 season, San Francisco holds a 33-18 record over Portland, with 14 wins coming on the road. In the conference set on the Hilltop last season, the Pilots came out victorious, winning two of the three contests to grab the series win. In the series finale on May 20, 2023, the green and gold scored four unanswered runs after the Pilots jumped out to an early 2-0 lead after the first inning to earn a 4-2 victory.

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? 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.