Diamond Dons Earn First Shutout Victory, 6-0 Over Fairleigh Dickinson

March 20, 2008

(San Francisco, CA) - Freshman Matt Lujan flexed his muscles on the mound, throwing 8.0 shutout innings to help San Francisco to a 6-0 win over visiting Fairleigh Dickinson at Benedetti Diamond on Thursday afternoon. USF (10-10) earned its first shutout victory of the 2008 season and returned to the .500 mark for the first time since February 29. With the loss, the Knights fall to 2-11 on the year.

Left-hander Lujan (2-0) threw an 8.0 inning gem for the Dons. The Stockton, CA native gave up just six hits and walked one, while striking out five in the victory. Only three Knights made it passed second base with Lujan on the mound, but he managed to wiggle out of the FDU scoring chances unscathed. Sophomore right-hander Alex Kalogrides threw a scoreless, one hit ninth.

USF pounded out 11 hits in the contest, with senior right fielder Kyle Morgan leading the way. Morgan scored the Dons first run with a giant solo homerun over the right field fence and finished the night 2-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI. Junior left fielder Zach Kim went 2-for-3 with two runs scored, two RBI and two stolen bases. Senior second baseman Joey Railey was 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI. Freshman center fielder Connor Bernatz also had two hits for the Dons.

After Morgan's homerun in the fourth, the Dons added two more in the sixth. With one out, Morgan reached base and advanced to second when his fly ball glanced off Knights center fielder Bryan Dorsey's glove. Then, with another out in the books, Kim singled down the right field line to plate Morgan. Kim stole second before sophomore catcher Sam Wiley walked. Both runners moved up an extra base on pitcher Evan Dechant's balk. Kim then scored on a wild pitch.

USF added three insurance runs in the eighth. Morgan singled to right and was replaced at first base by junior Drew Johnson. After a fly out by senior first baseman Mitchell Bialosky, Johnson stole second and advanced to third when catcher Vincent Pennacchio sailed the ball over second baseman Andrew Ahn's head. Kim singled through the right side, plating Johnson. Kim stole second and advanced to third when pinch hitting sophomore Bobby Ethel singled to right. Junior third baseman Dane Braunecker then singled to center, scoring Kim and moving Ethel to third. Railey then punched a double into left center, scoring Ethel to make it 6-0.

Dechant (0-1) took the loss for the Knights, allowing three runs (one earned) off five hits, three walks, and struck out five Dons in 6.0 innings. Chris Theordor threw the final 2.0 innings, allowing three earned runs off six hits. Theordor struck out one Don and did not walk a batter. FDU committed three costly errors in the contest.

USF and FDU play game two of the four game set tomorrow at Benedetti Diamond. First pitch is slated for 3:00 PM. Please note that this is a time change from the original noon start.