Diamond Dons Earn 6-4 Win in 10 Innings Versus Houston :: Matt Baugh Throws Complete 10 Inning Game

March 15, 2008

(Houston, TX) - San Francisco evened up the series with Houston, taking a 6-4, 10 inning victory in non-conference baseball action at Cougar Field on Saturday afternoon. The Dons (8-9) are now 2-0 in extra inning ballgames, having previously taken an 8-7, 13 inning win over UNLV last week. USF out hit the Cougars (11-6) 13-8, but continued to leave runners on base, stranding nine compared with Houston's four.

Senior right-hander Matt Baugh (2-2) earned the victory for USF in the longest outing of his career. Throwing 10 complete innings, Baugh allowed four earned runs off eight hits, struck out five Cougars and did not walk a batter.

USF started the scoring early, plating two in the first inning. With two outs and runners at second and third, senior right fielder Kyle Morgan singled to right field, scoring both Dons. They added one in the second when junior left fielder Zach Kim doubled down the left field line and moved to third on sophomore catcher Ryan Lipkin's sacrifice bunt. Kim scored on a sacrifice fly by senior shortstop Tavo Hall. In the third, the Dons added a fourth run with two outs. Morgan doubled to left and scored on senior designated hitter Matt Lieb's double to left.

Scoring one in the second and one in the fifth, Houston tied it at 4-4 with a two run sixth. Senior first baseman Bryan Pounds singled to start the inning and advanced to second on senior center fielder Bryan Tully's sacrifice bunt. Pounds scored on junior third baseman Jimmy Cesario's double to left center. Cesario stole third, and an out later, scored on sophomore catcher Chris Wallace's infield single.

Trading zeros for the next three innings, the Dons broke through in the top of the tenth. Junior third baseman Dane Braunecker singled to get things rolling, then an out later moved to second on sophomore center fielder Bobby Ethel's ground out. Kim quickly homered to make it 6-4. USF was able to hold of Houston in the bottom of the frame to take the win.

Morgan went 4-for-5 with a double, two RBI and a run scored to lead the Dons from the plate. Kim came up big with the two run homerun in the 10th to secure the victory and finished the day 2-for-5 with a double, homerun, two RBI and two runs scored. Lipkin also had two hits, including a double and Lieb doubled and batted in a run.

Tully (0-2) took the loss for Houston, allowing the Dons final two runs (both earned) off three hits and struck out one in 1.0 innings of relief. Freshman right-hander Jared Ray earned the no decision, allowing the Dons first four earned runs off eight hits, two walks, and struck out three in 5.0 innings. Cesario and Wallace both had three hits for the Cougars on Saturday.

USF and Houston play the rubber match tomorrow, with first pitch slated for 11:00 AM Pacific.