Dons Earn First Win, Outlast Hornets in Home Opener

Saturday, February 15

San Francisco, Calif.

2:00 p.m.

University of San Francisco

1-1

Sacramento State

1-1

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Sacramento State	0	0	0	2	1	0	0	2	0	5	7	0
San Francisco	0	0	4	0	3	0	0	1	X	8	10	0

Photo by: Christina Leung

2/15/2025 9:01:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – The University of San Francisco baseball team (1-1) earned its first win of the season, holding on for an 8-5 victory over Sacramento State (1-1) Saturday afternoon at Benedetti Diamond.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:

San Francisco jumped out ahead in the bottom of the third inning, posting four runs to take a commanding 4-0 lead. Kenny DeCelle put the Dons in front with one out as he laced an RBI double down the left-field line to score Zack Ramppen from second base for a 1-0 advantage.
Following a Jordan Lewis base hit, advancing DeCelle to third, TJ Rogers jumped on a breaking ball and recorded a three-run home run over the left-field wall to extend the lead to 4-0.
Sacramento State answered with two runs in the top of the fourth, cutting the green and gold's lead in half, 4-2. With a runner on, Jakob Poturnak sent a long two-run home run over the left field wall to put the Hornets on the board.
Matt Masciangelo added another run in the fifth, bringing the Hornets to within one, 4-3, with an RBI single to right field.
The Dons answered with three runs in the bottom half of the fifth inning, extending the margin to four, 7-3. Kody Watanabe kickstarted the inning with a hit-by-pitch, and Jordan Lewis added a single to put two runners on with one out. Rogers followed with a two-RBI single up the middle, scoring both Watanabe and Lewis for a 5-3 lead.
Tyler Harries and JT Amaral posted a sacrifice fly and an RBI single later in the inning to put the Dons up 7-3.
In the eighth inning, Poturnak recorded his second home run of the afternoon, another two-run shot to bring the Hornets to within 7-5.
DeCelle added a tally for the Dons in the bottom of the eighth to solidify the scoring with an RBI single through the right side of the infield, scoring Ramppen from second base.

NOTABLE PERFORMANCES:

Rogers led San Francisco offensively, going two-for-four at the plate with a home run, four RBI, and two runs scored. His four RBI marked a season-high while recording his sixth-career long ball.
DeCelle shined in his second game for the program, totaling three hits in five at-bats, two RBI, and scored one run.
Lewis added two hits for the green and gold and scored two runs.
On the mound, Joe Soberon tossed six solid innings to earn the win, allowing three runs on five hits and struck out six batters.
Kolby Calia earned his second career save as he punched out three batters in the final two innings.

POSTGAME WITH THE DONS:

To watch the full postgame interview with head coach Rob DiToma, TJ Rogers, and Joe Soberon, please click here.

UP NEXT:
San Francisco continues its four-game series as it travels to take on Sacramento State at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 16, at john Smith Field.

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.